Stress

[Guest ~jules~]

Okay my life has just been a living hell lately, I write pages upon pages about what I am going through and it has nothing to do with celiac. I am posting this simply to ask, if I am so constantly stressed out am I going to heal properly? I am following the diet to a "T" but as of now there is no way for me to reduce stress right now. I wonder is the stress going to just cancel out everything I am working so hard for? To heal? Is the diet enough, or am I just doomed? Is stress going to fing kill me? It sure as hell feels like it every day. Has anyone else gone through this? On top of your already screwed up life, you go and get a disease? What should I do! I can't call everything off and go live under a rock, just to get better. Is there more to healing than the diet?

[CarlaB]

It probably depends on how sick you are. I had a lot of stress when I was diagnosed that didn't have anything to do with my gluten intolerance. I ended up with adrenal burnout/ adrenal fatigue. I encourage you to google that! I would hate you to get to the point I did where I couldn't even get out of bed. I've been so sick for the past four months that I cannot physically carry on my normal tasks and have had no choice but to cut them out. I mean, what can you do when you don't have the strength to get out of bed? It's better for you to cut back now by your own choice rather than have to cut out everything later. Please google it ... it's important to not burn yourself out! You already have your body working hard to heal.

[StrongerToday]

How about some stress management???

Seriously though - get some good self help books or magazines (I love Oprah's magazine) and practice some stress relief. Stress does effect your body! You will heal, but much slower. You really need to take some time for yourself and get some chill-out time going.

I took a relaxation class, and it's done a world of good. Even just 10 minutes of breathing or progressive muscle relaxation helps. A quick walk helps too. You're in control - don't let it control you!

[Guest ~jules~]

I just don't feel like I am getting any better. Ya the "D" is gone but all of the other symptoms are still here, and to tell you the truth it feels worse than it did before. As far as stress management goes, I know I need to just revise my whole life right now. I need to get rid of the "toxic" people that are in my life to even think about reducing stress. Unfortunetly, if those certain people are eliminated it will directly effect my life one way or the other. I'm damned if I do damned if I don't.

[CarlaB]

Many of those other symptoms are symptoms of adrenal fatigue as well. I would bet, from my own experience, that you won't get healthy until you address the stress. There are other suggestions for adrenal fatigue as well -- it's associated with stress, which is why I'm bringing it up so strongly here! If you can't immediately address the source, maybe doing all the other things will help some.

I actually do not communicate with my mom or my sisters for this reason. Your health is that important. You're not alone ... I've had to change around my life completely.

[Mahee34]

I find that stress triggers certain stomach reactions for me as well...it's very frustrating especially when you're following your diet strictly...I've said several times "why do i follow this if I'm not going to feel any better" of course, I could always feel worse....

i've noticed that even though daily life makes it hard to decrease stress sometimes, taking 30 minutes out of your day to do something you love, walk, read, guitar...finding something that relaxs you and makes you step away from the stress causing item (items, people, whichever) really helps me get everything into perspective and relax...

When stress is family, it's usually more tricky...maybe explaining to them what is going on with you and asking for compromise will help your situation? If you don't feel confident doing this, I find that making myself less available to these toxic people, regardless of who they are, helps my mind at least...slowly things will start to fall into place, just hang in there!

[Guest ~jules~]

Thanks for the replies...I really do need to find a way to include myself in my life. I excersize, but I haven't had the time I usually do this week plus I have a cold. Usually excersizing a bit even if its just a walk makes me feel better. I have alot on my plate, with pretty much no time for me ever. Then I am told I have a disease, and I can't help but just want to scream! What Now! I need a getaway badly. We took our vacation this year at disneyland, which was fun, but definetly not alot of RandR. This year I want to go to the middle of nowhere, without the damn phone, t.v., computer, work, SCHEDULE, you name it, and RELAX!!!!!!! ARG!!