Pregnant and stressed

Small backstory: my brother is a recovering heroin addict. He just finished up a 4 month program this past weekend. I’m so proud of him. This program was the lo best one he’s done and I can see a big change. I know that only time will tell though.

Anyways... my stepmom called me in hysterics yesterday. She’s stressed out that he’s out of the program. But he finished every step and the counselors said he was one of the most focused there. She says he’s killing my father. That my father is so stressed he’s not eating. My Dad has Parkinson’s and his medication makes him not hungry. It’s been this way for the past 10 years. She’s stressed that my brother is going to cost them money. As far as I know he hasn’t since he’s been home. My Dad offered to set him up in a motel for a few days so he could get his bearings but he never asked him to. My brother came to see her when he got out too. She said asked her to stand up and when she did he hugged her and apologized for everything. Said she’d always been right about him and that he wished he saw it sooner. That being a stepparent is tough and he was sorry he did that to her. He’s NEVER done that before. So that right there is a huge change. But all she wanted to focus on was the fact he asked her to stand up out of her chair.

She’s also mad at him because as she put it “you little brother is going to grow up without a father because of him. You guys have had your Dad your whole lives and he hasn’t. It’s not fair.” I’m 33 and my little brother is about to turn 17.

So since talking to her yesterday my blood pressure and heart rate have been up off and on. I barely slept last night. I’m anxious. I’m 5 months pregnant and dealing with all kinds of other stuff right now in my own household. I’m worried about her, my Dad’s health and my brother getting along. I told her about how I’m feeling today when she messaged me about it again and she glazed over it. I know this transition is going to be hard but she’s not the only one going through it.

I can’t be anyone’s saviour. I’m barely handling the stress myself and I have to look out for my unborn child.