Physical Wellness Update: The Effects of Stress

My state of health has been trash, lately.

Like, I’ve never had so many diagnosis’ and meds prescribed to me in my entire life.

And I’m only 21.

I’m sure there’s many technical reasons we could list as to why that is, but ultimately, I know that my health issues are a direct result of the chaos in my life currently.

The last two weeks I’ve given updates on my self-help practices (picked them back up, y’all) and my emotional detachment status (which is improving by the day), so it’s only right to cover how the downsides of these topics affected my body, and how that has changed as well.

Okay so let’s go back to mid-August, when I had my yearly physical.

My mama went with me, and she made a point to inform my doctor of my breathing issues, which were seemingly alarming.

I’ve always had trouble breathing at night, which I attribute to my horrendous sinuses, but unbeknownst to me, I wheeze as well.

To me, I feel like I’m breathing normally, but to those around me, I sound like I’m dying, apparently.

My doctor didn’t express any immediate concern, just to keep a watch out for it.

So, we went on throughout the appointment, checking blood pressure (which was abnormally high) and vitals, going over meds I’m already on, doing a pap smear that still gives me nightmares, and drawing blood.

We go home, and then I leave for my senior year at Upstate.

A few weeks in, I notice something is extremely off.

I’ve always had migraines, but they began to progress to a daily occurrence, I was feeling extremely tired all the time, my thyroid glands were acting up (I’d had a problem with this previously), and my breaths were getting shorter by the day.

First, I got a call saying that I’d been diagnosed with anemia due to my low iron, and prescribed medicine to help open my airways.

Then, I had to go back home for my grandmother, and in the midst of that, alarmed my family with my wheezing.

I had to call my doctor who prescribed me another medication and an inhaler for usage over the phone.

I currently have to take a minimum of five medications each day, not including my inhaler, just to go about life as normal.

I’m not saying this to garner attention and sympathy (that would actually make me extremely uncomfortable), but I just want to highlight how quickly things can turn within a such a short period of time.

And I wasn’t taking care of myself physically, mentally or emotionally, as you know from previous posts.

Knowing how chaotic my life already was, I continuously added more to my plate, trying to be superhuman.

And it all came back to bite me in the ass.

It is crazy how much of an impact the stressors of life have on one’s health.

Consciously, I knew this, but experiencing it for yourself is a whole other ballgame.

I could blame my health issues on other situations or people, but at the end of the day, I have the final say so.

I have to take accountability for my life and my well-being, and when doing that, I can acknowledge that I’ve been mistreating my body in major ways lately.

But you want to know something pretty awesome?

Ever since I started back up with my daily dose of personal development and practicing vulnerability with others, I’ve noticed less health flare ups.

Now yes, I still am taking the medication, but I feel this shift is bigger than that.

I shared how I am at more peace now, which denounces stress.

I’m hoping that improving in my mental health and emotional intelligence will continue to destress my body, therefore decreasing my health issues until I’m not dependent on the medication at all.

I also have yet to start working out again, which y’all can definitely roast me for, because it’s been two months and that’s just tragic.

I’m not even about to act like I’m gonna get it together for this year because Thanksgiving is right around the corner, then Christmas, so any sort of diet just ain’t happening for ya girl.

But it’s snuggling season, so we good!

Let me know about your physical wellness journeys in the comments below and on our social media pages!

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