Good on you dragonphoto. Your choose welness over sickness to control your life. Hope and promise are not lost.

I know that feeling too. I miss my partner beyond words to express. I have my son with me but raising him mostly alone is extra challenging when I have to put some much energy into my own issues. My guilt for having caused our family to live apart is overwhelming sometimes. Fortunately my partner does what he can from a distance and stays connected to be there when we need him.

I'd suggest you share your learning with your wife. Not to make excuses but to give her hope that you are learning how to manage your illness from our experiences.

You should not give up the dream that you will be back with your family some day. Not today or tomorrow but some day. Each day you work with your CBT exercises and each time you put them into practise strengthens you for the next challenge.

I'm believing for both of us that the day will come when we are coping well enough to reunite our families or at very least find the balance that will serve everyone's needs and interests. Right now your lonliness and her stress are triggering reactions and behaviours that neither of you are happy with.

Patience and steadfast effort to be well are your best strategies right now. Consider the time you are away from your family as your time to regroup and regain your power. Your wife is giving you the gift of time and space to focus as much energy as you need to get well. Take full advantage of the opportunity. Reward her for her kindness and patience by making the most of every moment and every opportunity to get well.

Somedays that's all I have to lean on to find the motivation to get out of bed and try again. When things go well for a period of time its tempting to think I'm ready to take on more than I'm already dealing with. I resist the urges and keep myself working within boundaries I can handle.

One day.... one step at a time. Step by step, day by day we get closer to the prize. To our hopes and our dreams.

Be proud of what you've done. Recognize the growth it represents. In time you will have a history of wellness that outweighs the history of illness.

That is my hope for both you and I. Talking with you about this and hearing about how you turned your thoughts around has increased my own resolve to stay the course and keep focused on doing the work.

I keep reminding myself that no one said it would be easy but I've faith my efforts bring new hopes. You have feed that faith for me today.

Be well..... be ever hopeful.