But the guilt doesn't go away. I have been unhappy and ill and I have soldiered on and I know I would have regretted it if I'd got rid of the animals simply because I would have felt like I'd failed them. My ex used to ask why didn't I get rid of them if I was so miserable, but in the same way why not put my son into care? He's certainly made me miserable! To which he'd say 'you didn't give birth to guinea pigs!' Fair enough I didn't give birth to them, but I made a commitment to them. The whole point in any kind of commitment is 'through good times and bad' surely? If you expect things to be easy and fun and exciting all the time you will be disappointed in life. And if you give up just because things are hard or boring you will be disappointed in yourself.
Of course if I was hospitalised I'd have no choice but give them up, which is why I've lowered my standards regarding cleaning out and housework. It hasn't affected the animals adversely to be cleaned out less and that's a fact. And for me it's made the difference between being able to keep going or having to give them up due to ill health.
I agree, but that's the decision you have made for yourself, it may not be good for someone else to do the same.