Physical Manifestations of Stress | Pad Patter 3.2.16

Sorry you had such a stressful time!

When I was in high school, I used to get stress-related rashes on my neck right at the hairline. When I went away to college, the rashes disappeared. Nowadays when I am under a lot of stress, I know that I can usually count on picking up a cold somewhere along the way. I think my body is more susceptible when stressed.

I know that a lot of my stress is self-imposed, overcommitting myself for activities, for my time & responsibilities, so I'm making a conscious effort to say no, to set priorities, to focus on healthy habits.

 

Oh geez, I'm so sorry Kimberlee. I think that you deserved a day in bed though after all that. Sometimes pulling the covers over your head and just going back to sleep is a great solution. I hope that you feel better today. Maybe the next family dinner should be just one part of the family at a time.

 

I'm so sorry to hear about that dinner and the sh*t storm that ensued. Staying in bed sounds just right for the aftermath.

When I had a high stress job and came home to a troubled and troublesome teen, I really appreciated the 1 mile walk home. Time to let one stress go somewhat before I had the mindless chatter of a 15 yo girl. I also took a good shower when I got home and washed off the 'dirt' of the day. Again, water on my head was relaxing and calming. I still need to do that at times which is one reason I have short hair!

Now when things get stressful I feel it in my shoulders and it's telling that maybe I'm taking on a load (mentally, emotionally & some times physically) that is not mine. Great line...Not my circus, not my monkeys. I totally agree with Karen. One 'difficult' family member at a time. You were outnumbered on that table. I think getting up and going to bed Right Then might have been acceptable behavior on you part. Hugs and deep deep breaths!

 

Oh no! I'm sorry you had a stressful dinner. And it since it came out of the blue, you didn't feel the need to prepare for the stress, which stinks cuz imo that always makes it feel worse. Talk about expectation versus reality!
I grind my teeth, so I know I'm stressed when it hurts to chew food.
I think physical manifestations of our emotions happen more than we are aware. Or rather, we (as in the human race) have yet to fully understand how the mind can truly affect the body.

 

I'm so sorry. That sounds stressfull. I can relate to the family craziness... I dread going to family dinners with DH's side. It's like a soap opera, and I'm supposed to know who is not talking to who, who is offended, and who is in the doghouse. I just smile, and be friendly to everyone, lol!

I will occasionally get a headache. But when I super stress, I tend to break out. It has to be really bad for that to happen.

 

I am a big believer in how emotions can cause sickness. I read this book:
Deadly Emotions: Understand the Mind-Body-Spirit Connection That Can Heal or Destroy You

It really opened my eyes, and how me stressing did NOTHING to help the situation and gave me insight on how to remove them or ability to deal with them.

 

I started having unexplained welts and constant itching while working on a horrific software proposal in 2008 (14 hours a day, 7 days a week for months). I've had what has been diagnosed as "chronic idiopathic urticaria" ever since. It's controlled by some pretty strong antihistamines, but they really just relieve the itching. If anything brushes across my skin with any pressure, it'll leave a red mark. I can literally write my name on my arm with a fingernail! It's actually kind of a cool party trick.

Most cases are supposed to clear themselves within 6 months, but I've had mine for 8 years and counting and have had every battery of tests known to man trying to find the root cause. Basically, I just have a really hyperactive immune system now (my theory is that it's bored). The upside is that I'm almost never sick. The downside is the itching. I'm just grateful that the meds keep it under control, though I would love to be off of them. And it definitely gets worse when I'm stressed out!

 

Well as you probably know I hit the extreme with physical problems due to stress. Last year was either stress or my body reacting to stress. There wasn't a break. By August I was burnt out bad. I haven't answered you yet because I didn't really know what to tell you. I can give you some tips. I just took a class and learned a lot about the body and stress. One thing that sounds really weird it to tune into your body and focus on how the chair beneath you feels, the floor under your feet, looking slowly around the world. Just taking time checking in with yourself but in a physical way. This one takes practice but I was amazed that by doing it more it was helping a lot.
Everyone here has great ideas. That breathing one I just ran across and haven't quite mastered it, but they say that by focusing on the breathing and counting it helps more.
Pay attention to where you feel the stress starting. But as this doesn't happen a lot, that may not be helpful advice.
I've had a few days lately where I have just had nothing left to get out of bed. That's okay and if you can honor it, that's great. With kids it's impossible I imagine, but if you can crawl back in and just let yourself relax it's something.
So sorry that happened. It's so frustrating. I totally and completely ignore time with my in-laws (unless they come here) but they have that affect on me. I also struggle with big social events. I've gone to the other extreme though and avoid too much.
Hope you are feeling better. If not can you crawl in bed early and read, or listen to music, something to just relax? You have quite the handful over there. I hope you can make some time for you. Sending hugs and good thoughts.

 

Oh, hugs to you! Nothing is worse than a family situation like that. I don't blame you for staying in bed - it was your body telling you it's just what you needed to do. (Before we were married, my darling husband used to rile up his nephews near the end of family gatherings, just in time to hand them back to their mom. I got him to stop it once we were married!)

For me, my abnormally low blood pressure spikes, my heart races, and my brain shuts down. I can't think a complete thought for the life of me. Then I want to eat nothing but chocolate, and I'm not supposed to eat chocolate. I've got one severely ADD kid and one ADHD/Aspergers kid, so stress has been my life. And for some reason I seem to be a jerk magnet - people LOVE to scream, yell and swear at me. It happens about 1x a day, sometimes more. In fact, a neighbor just screamed at me this afternoon when I asked him to remove his rather large dog from another neighbor's garden. Sigh. And I get yelled at a lot at work by people who don't want to follow the rules, and it's my job to enforce the rules.

I really don't have any solutions because I've not found any for me. hang in there - you're not alone!

 

@mrs2a50 You are the first person I've ever heard of who has these! I occasionally get these too and the first time it happened I thought I had a torn retina! Fortunately my eye doctor knew just what I meant. Phew! They are so weird but If I just stop and close my eyes they pass fairly quickly. I recognize the sign of one starting when my vision starts to blur in the center. I've learned you can't always rush the 'stopping' part though. Relaxing and deep breathing...well that's a cure for most things, isn't it!

 

I've learned (or just made the decision) to avoid as many of those situations as possible. But when I do get so over the top stressed (usually a combination of things - as you stated "the perfect storm") I tend to just take a walk, an assertive walk, to expel what is basically the pent up energy which in turn releases endorphin, serotonin, all those "feel good" chemicals to counter the bad. It sounds so cliche, but it really works for me. When things get really chaotic in my life, I will walk at least once a day, fast walking . . . the kind that makes it hard to talk and makes me sweaty. When life is good, I bake a lot and gain weight . . .

 

I have horrible muscle pain. Especially in my shoulders and middle back. When it's really bad, they can cause headaches. I also have terrible anxiety.

 

I'm so sorry Kimberlee. I don't suffer near what any of you all do. I can tell when I'm stressed out though...my eye lid twitches and I clench my jaw so bad that it usually ends in my TMJ acting up which usually results in expensive dental work. I've learned to relax my facial muscles, and I try to get extra sleep.

Have any of you tried essential oils? I diffuse them in my room. It helps too.

 

I forgot to mention when you know you are reaching your stress limit and/or have a mind that won't stop obsessing on something, try doing something that involves both hands at the same time...playing the piano, knitting, crocheting, even keyboarding. I learned this at a training at the VA in a past job. When you use both hands, both sides of your brain are engaged and you kind of short circuit whatever is bothering you. A simple way if you just have a bit of time is to write your name or anything with both hands BACKWARD at the same time. Try it with frazzled children too. They even can think it's fun!

 

Stress is such an awful thing to deal with, both for peace of mind and the effect it has on your body. I can always tell when my husband is stressed because his back gives out. We thinks it is to do with the tensing of the muscles that is associated with stressful situations until they can no longer keep it together. I'm assuming that tensing muscles in your neck/facial region would also affect headaches and migraines.