(no subject)

[fadeaccompli]

So. As I noted, my house was robbed on Wednesday. I've spent the last several days notifying the bank (they took a checkbook), changing passwords (they took a laptop), notifying used game stores (they took a lot of game consoles and video games), contacting the insurance company (which might even pay us a little money after the deductible is accounted for), and being periodically enraged to discover small, unexpected things missing. (A pair of cheap but cute sandals. The adorable green piggybanks from Kiva, with a few dollars of change inside. My library card.)

I'm writing up the detailed report for the police, and feeling overwhelmed by the endless nature of the paperwork. And I just...am sort of looking for advice, I guess. Not for Doing All The Things, but for coping and feeling less overwhelmed. I'm not getting chores done because I'm dealing with the paperwork. I've got overdue library books and videos because I'm dealing with the paperwork. My homework is late because I'm dealing with the paperwork...

It's like some sort of cascading slide of increasing stress that's no longer even attached to "some of my stuff is missing" because dealing with the robbery is so stressful in itself, and makes everything else stressful by taking up time I'd usually spend keeping up with stuff. And I'm getting a lot of good advice--get a free credit report! go talk to pawnshops! check craigslist!--that are reminding me that I should be doing EVEN MORE THINGS, and. Well. I am about ready to curl up in a ball and cry and never even file this report because I just can't cope with juggling all these things and trying to study for my Latin test on Wednesday, y'know?

So I am trying to figure out what's absolutely necessary, and what's less so. Because if I try to follow every single possible lead for having the most efficient, thorough, awesome superpower-esque competence for dealing with this robbery, I will just collapse into a ball of stress and not get any of it done at all. And possibly still fail this test anyway.

Help?

Comments

[anne]

Have you asked your Latin prof for an extension? (Would an extension even help? If not...you should still tell your prof what's going on.)

Financial stuff and ID documents are the most important--Social Security cards, car title, birth certificates? Ask your insurance company for advice on what you can let slide and how to deal with what you can't. (Mine was shockingly helpful, even though it was totally my fault.)

[fadeaccompli]

I've told my prof what's going on. I didn't ask for an extension, because with a week between robbery and test, that would've been a bit much; she did give me a pass on Friday's homework.

The only ID they got was the checkbook and an old student ID for a place I no longer attend. I will try asking the insurance company for help, but I admit I'm hesitant because when I ask for help right now I usually get a list of even more Helpful Things To Do, which then makes me feel even worse about not having done them.

[anne]

Has it been almost a week already? Jeesh, my brain.

FWIW, I found that my ins co was most helpful when I asked them specific questions. They were less hlepy that way. (And if I'm being hlepy, I'm very sorry!!)

[fadeaccompli]

No, you are being very helpful! Not hlepy at all. I will try asking the insurance folks for a priority list.

[anne]

*whew*

And here is some virtual tea. Wish it were the real kind.

[jazzfish]

Argh. :( That sucks, a lot. My sympathies.

I do have a possibly-hlepy 15-minute stress reduction suggestion:

1) Make tea.
2) While tea is making, read the entirety of this list containing a lot of adorable animal pictures.
3) Drink tea while requesting your free credit report, because hey, you've got a web browser open anyway.
4) You did something useful! Scroll back over the cute animals.

[neogrammarian]

I second (third) tea and cute animals.

And get extensions in every class- this IS why Student Affairs exists. They will back you- you are not trying to get out of work, but have a genuine drama you're trying to clear up.

Do that first, no really, and then tea and animals (as needed) and that other list of helpyness as you feel it is important.

[cythraul]

Does the school give you access to counseling services? You've just been through a traumatic experience that's having an ongoing practical effect on your life.

[fadeaccompli]

Probably, though... I don't know. This just doesn't seem important enough to talk to them about. People get robbed all the time! (Especially around campus.) But I may track 'em down.