A couple of years ago I invited a dear friend, who was feeling blue, to come over with her children and do lunch and visit, for a while. I was completely surprised when she turned me down. I coerced and gave multiple reasons of how it would benefit her to come over, still, "No, Thank you." was her adament reply. I was quite perplexed for a few months about that. I thought she was carrying her "blue mood" to a bit of an unnecessary extreme.
January of 2011 brought so much more than a new year, for me. For one thing, though I didn't realize it, I had a new perspectve waiting, ready to hit me squarely between the eyes, blessing me with a paradigm shift regarding my dear friend's desire to protect her space that day, a few months previous. One night, after a particulary tragic event, I found myself in a heap on the floor. Literally all my strength and energy seemed completely sapped, as I lay there sobbing. Though late at night, there was no desire to move to a comfortable bed, no one I wanted to talk to, no one I could think of to offer comfort, no desire to continue living one more hour."I remember asking aloud, to no one in particular, "Is this what hitting rock bottom is? Am I there, yet?"
A very concerned and scared husband called my dear friend and asked for her help the next day, as I hadn't moved an inch from the spot on the bed where he'd eventually lifted me. She recognized the described behavior and made an appointment for the three of us to visit, Sher, a very nutritionally educated lady, in the area, who teaches weekly classes on a myriad of health issues. As it turns out, Sher and I were old acquaintences and had worked together before. It was a good thing I had two others along, as they were able to speak for me since my speech and memories were slow and foggy.
Adrenal Fatigue is the name of my new condition; and, as my dear friend discovered, hers as well. It's basically what happens when a body has taken in more stressful events than it has released, over and over again, until it finally folds. Symptoms are many, but the most obvious are strength is minimum to none, short term recall is little, words are dropped from sentences and even difficult to select when speaking.Depression sneaks in from time to time, even stealing the desire to live. Mornings and early afternoons are absolute rest periods. I remember being at the grocery store, at the beginning of this new discovery, and the hour had moved toward 2 o'clock. I noticed I was slowing down a great deal, and my body felt heavy. I couldn't focus on the rest of my list in front of me. I realized, the blaring thing in my mind was rest, NOW. Suddenly I felt panic that I wouldn't remember my way home, or even be able to drive and stay awake. I had to stop shopping immediately, pay for my things, search frantically for a now difficult to find vehicle, and stop myself several times from hyperventilating as I drove home.That's how consuming adrenal fatigue can be.
Is it recoverable, I wondered? Yes, but it's critical to rest when the body demands it,and take the proper nutrients. Also, STRESS must be steered away from, eliminated as much as possible, avoid events that may cause anxiousness or anxiety. Find reasons to laugh and enjoy life. It could be six months before I have my strength back, Sher told me.
As I trudged through the next months making an attempt to reach through the heavy mist and find "me" again, I had new eyes for my dear friend, and huge gratitude to have someone who could understand and even defend my very real need to be left alone to rest, often, now.
January of 2011 brought so much more than a new year, for me. For one thing, though I didn't realize it, I had a new perspectve waiting, ready to hit me squarely between the eyes, blessing me with a paradigm shift regarding my dear friend's desire to protect her space that day, a few months previous. One night, after a particulary tragic event, I found myself in a heap on the floor. Literally all my strength and energy seemed completely sapped, as I lay there sobbing. Though late at night, there was no desire to move to a comfortable bed, no one I wanted to talk to, no one I could think of to offer comfort, no desire to continue living one more hour."I remember asking aloud, to no one in particular, "Is this what hitting rock bottom is? Am I there, yet?"
A very concerned and scared husband called my dear friend and asked for her help the next day, as I hadn't moved an inch from the spot on the bed where he'd eventually lifted me. She recognized the described behavior and made an appointment for the three of us to visit, Sher, a very nutritionally educated lady, in the area, who teaches weekly classes on a myriad of health issues. As it turns out, Sher and I were old acquaintences and had worked together before. It was a good thing I had two others along, as they were able to speak for me since my speech and memories were slow and foggy.
Adrenal Fatigue is the name of my new condition; and, as my dear friend discovered, hers as well. It's basically what happens when a body has taken in more stressful events than it has released, over and over again, until it finally folds. Symptoms are many, but the most obvious are strength is minimum to none, short term recall is little, words are dropped from sentences and even difficult to select when speaking.Depression sneaks in from time to time, even stealing the desire to live. Mornings and early afternoons are absolute rest periods. I remember being at the grocery store, at the beginning of this new discovery, and the hour had moved toward 2 o'clock. I noticed I was slowing down a great deal, and my body felt heavy. I couldn't focus on the rest of my list in front of me. I realized, the blaring thing in my mind was rest, NOW. Suddenly I felt panic that I wouldn't remember my way home, or even be able to drive and stay awake. I had to stop shopping immediately, pay for my things, search frantically for a now difficult to find vehicle, and stop myself several times from hyperventilating as I drove home.That's how consuming adrenal fatigue can be.
Is it recoverable, I wondered? Yes, but it's critical to rest when the body demands it,and take the proper nutrients. Also, STRESS must be steered away from, eliminated as much as possible, avoid events that may cause anxiousness or anxiety. Find reasons to laugh and enjoy life. It could be six months before I have my strength back, Sher told me.
As I trudged through the next months making an attempt to reach through the heavy mist and find "me" again, I had new eyes for my dear friend, and huge gratitude to have someone who could understand and even defend my very real need to be left alone to rest, often, now.
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