Scared and Upset
Background: I have been in the process of patenting my invention over the last year and a half. Meanwhile, my mom fell, and I quit my job to become her full-time caregiver. I just got a notice from the patent attorney that I will have to pay more money to respond to a restriction requirement, and now I'm starting to get scared because what if more and more money is going to be required as this goes on, and what if I get to where I can't pay any more? I feel sick in the pit of my stomach, like this is kind of like extortion in order to protect a person's intellectual property.
TLDR: I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that patenting is a wise choice, and maybe I'm not the only one who has gone through this sick feeling and fear.
Please respond.