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Drowning in "House Poor" stress: Selling a noisy house, caring for my brother, and my work performance is tanking

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I’m posting this because I feel like I’m at my breaking point and I just need to hear from anyone who has survived a situation like this. I am currently trying to sell our family home in a tough market (Southern California). We are completely "house poor." My dad and I are paying for everything, and the monthly burn rate is eating us alive. We need to sell this house to survive financially, but it’s been sitting on the market with no offers because it has flaws—specifically, it’s a "front row" unit with a lot of street noise, and we are competing with brand new construction nearby. On top of the financial pressure, my life feels like it's collapsing: 1. Work is Suffering: This stress has been distracting me from fully concentrating at work for the last 5 months, but now that we are actually in the selling phase, it’s getting much worse. I’m physically at my desk, but mentally I’m spiraling about the house. I'm terrified my performance is going to drop enough to cause issues, which adds even more pressure since I pay the mortgage. 2. The "Showroom" Nightmare: I am the only one trying to keep the house clean while we are still living in it. Keeping a house "staged" and perfect for showings 24/7 is exhausting enough, but I’m doing it solo while taking care of my little brother. 3. The Caregiving & Conflict: My mom is currently out of the country, so I am the primary caretaker for my brother. Before she left, we had huge arguments about listing the house (she didn't want to sell/drop the price), so I feel guilty but also trapped. 4. The Mental Toll: My anxiety has become severe. I tried medication recently, but it gave me insomnia on the first night, so I stopped. I’m so exhausted that the only way I can cope is by dissociating and watching YouTube Shorts for hours just to numb the stress. I feel paralyzed. I want to drop the price just to get out and sleep again, but I’m terrified of the financial loss and the family conflict. Has anyone dealt with selling a difficult house while being the financial pillar and the cleaner and the caretaker? How do you manage the "waiting game" without losing your job or your mind? I’m willing to trade top-dollar for speed and certainty at this point just to save my mental health. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

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r/Anxiety
Posted
Feb 12, 2026 at 8:52 PM UTC
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