WOMAN'S HEALTH
Is STRESS another name for TEMPORARY INSANITY?
"I did not lose myself all at
once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same
way carvings on stone are washed down by water."
-Amy Tan
Stress by any other name is still stress. People tell me they hate the word "stress". What else can we call it? When I am seriously stressed, it feels like "temporarily insanity"! Are you losing your "self" to stress?
Some symptoms are:
1. Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
2. Anger at those making demands
3. Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
4. Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
5. A sense of being besieged
6. Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
7. Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
8. Weight loss or gain
9. Sleeplessness and depression
10. Shortness of breath
11. Suspiciousness
12. Feelings of helplessness
These are a lot of the reasons someone seeks medical care. After the physical exam and the tests are done, the diagnosis is very often "STRESS RELATED SYMPTOMS". To pass off everything as "stress", without checking for physical problems, is not a good idea. The stress that can cause some serious medical conditions should not be overlooked. When everything checks out as normal, guess what the problem is most likely to be? You can make your own assessment - do you know yourself anymore? Did you ever know?
You are your only natural resource. When you are feeling any of the symptoms listed above you are burning up the energy to live your life with joy and contentment.
Take your life back! You don't have to do everything and be everything to everyone else all the time. If you think you can't possibly do one more thing without screaming or crying you are probably right.
Start taking your power and energy back by saying, "No, I've got a prior commitment." You do - to yourself. Only you can take care of yourself.
Making changes can be scary. We are in a rut and we have furnished it with excuses. Others don't often want us to change because then they will have to change, too. One baby step at a time can improve your life. Get a massage, take a bubble bath, rent a favorite movie, and go out to lunch with a friend who makes you laugh!
Love yourself into wholeness - if not now, then when?
Sharon Campbell is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) who owns A New Creation Women’s Clinic. Well versed in Women’s Health, her emphasis is on reproductive and gynecological health. Sharon can be reached at: 293-1117.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
