So lately I have found out just how much stress affects my RA. WOW! So I have been trying to be better about not getting stressed out, but when you have your own business, stress is just part of it.
If you cannot avoid stress, how do you manage it? I'm not a "join a class" kind of gal...
Thanks
Laura T
I dont really understand the stress part of this disease. I havent noticed that when I was stressed I would flare up.Hi , Stress comes to people so differently., I know the stress of owning (or it owns you) your business. I think we all need to examine our lives and systamatically review what makes us crazy when everyone around us is calm. I took tennis lessons from a pro in Reno years ago and he said, "if you can block out the stress, distractions, and just hit the ball (hopefully better than you opponent...I was competing against other women), then you will win. There was the fear of making a fool out of yourself, the will to win, the noise of the crowds, etc. etc.
I think it is about focusing on the really important things in our lives and letting the 'little' things roll off. I use to spend all my time worrying about my son, he's grown now and I spent a lot of time 'worrying' about my grand kids. THEN I STOPPED!! Now, I've let go of 'over protecting' other people, I hear their fears and anxieties (my 16 year old grand daughter is going to Europe!!) oh my gosh could I ever WORRY about that!! But, I don't. I'm letting go and letting HER parents do the worryin'.
It takes work to stop stressing over things (everything), but you can do it. Start today and figure out what is worth worrying about.....it'll change by the minute. And then decide what you can handle.
Our bodies are compromised and we can't add to the physical problems with mental anguish.
I think 'maybe unknowingly' we do contribute to flares, BUT my heart operation taught me 'a big thing like that' , can almost destroy you!! I wasn't prepared for the RA factor (I did fine with the heart operation), but I didn't know the RA drugs would take so long to work (3 months) and during that time I'd be in so much pain and agony. Only prednisone worked to get me to this point I am today. Now, MTX & Remicade are working.
I have gotten very protective, more self centered....do what's good for me and let others figure out what they NEED. My family understands and doesn't 'need' me to 'mother hen them'!! thank goodness as I couldn't do 'it'. My husband understands and takes care of all the 'big' financial stuff, etc. It isn't easy, but we need to pass on stuff to other people or just let it go as best we can, or we have flares and suffer 'big time'!
Didn't mean this to be so long, thanks for reading, Lynda
I love what Hurts had to say on this :)
I pray when I am stressed.
I just had the worst flare I've ever - I'm so thankful that prednisone exists. So far, it always seems to make a dramatic difference. I'm totally sure it was brought on by stress.
My dad was hospitalized over father's day weekend for severe emphysema. On the following monday, he was moved to a short term facility. Two days later, he had a ruptured bowel and back to the hospital for emergency surgery. While fixing the bowel, the surgeon noticed what looked like cancer that never showed up and any films. He's in critical care on a ventilator. The next day I found out he has MRSA. Yesterday, I'm told he has cancer in his lungs, liver, pretty much everywere (as the doctor put it). Nothing more to do but make him comfortable.
I'm so sorry kweenb, that is a lot to deal with, especially since it was unexpected. I'll add you and your family to my prayers. I know it's difficult, but do try to take care of yourself first. Hurts really nailed it about stress - nothing more I can add there. All this on top of owning your own business, wow...
I will be thinking of you.
STRESS
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised aglass of water and asked,
"How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued,
"And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
as the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
we won't be able to carry on. "
"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.
Don't carry it home.
You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."
So, my friend, why not take a while to just simply RELAX.
Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.
Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Life is short. Enjoy it!
Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone and never see that person again, it was probably worth it
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
* Never buy a car you can't push.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons...some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you
today....
For me the big three stress reducers are:
1) yoga (at home...no class) and walking
2) writing (mostly poetry)
3) playing music (mandolin...church worship band and amateur orchestra)
It's different for everone, of course, so you have to find what works for you.
Alan