Ballerific Health: Stress – The Silent Killer

They dub stress “the silent killer” because of the damage it does underneath the guise of other health issues; Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease. Stress can and WILL kill you. My aunt was in her 40’s and she detested her job, whenever she would see a sign for her exit her chest would tighten. One fateful day as she was getting ready for work, she called her sister and told her that her chest was hurting and she wanted to go to the Dr./ER. My aunt told her to go downstairs and unlock the door so she can get in the house. From what I was told, she went downstairs and was found unresponsive in front of the door; never getting a chance to unlock it. This was over well over 10 years ago.

Doctors tell you don’t stress, but truth of the matter is…you do it.

-Family
-Health
-Job
-Finances
-Bills
-School
-BILLS
-Relationships
-Neverending BILLS
-Finding employment
Did I mention bills?

The list goes on and on, I know you have your own set of stressors that might not be included in this list. It’s apart of life and it seems (speaking for ME) that when one thing goes wrong, it turns into a snowball full of one thing on top of another on top of another. Then you start to stress out because you can’t get a break.

Next thing you know you have a headache/migraine, you can’t sleep, you start losing weight (this one I’m A-OK with btw.), back pain, or you end up eating the stress away.

This past month has been trial after trial for me. Stress levels have been on a hundred thousand trillion. It got so bad that I ended up in the hospital TWICE with heart issues, my blood pressure was 200/100, I had lost vision in my right eye. Everything was blurry. Everything HURT. Weight was a huge yo-yo. I couldn’t work anymore and that meant no money, which of course led to more stress. Landlord and cable/phone companies could give a damn if your blind in one eye and can’t see out the other, they want their money. MORE stress.

I stressed my way into health issues that can kill me. You blame yourself for that and what does that turn into ladies and gentlemen? That’s right…STRESS. I’m putting myself into an early grave. The thing is, I’m not alone. Sometimes people stress so damn much and no matter how hard they try to fix the situation it doesn’t help and people go to the extreme and kill themselves. It’s hard out here and when you have no one to talk to, because honestly folks, you going to tell your best friend you’re stressed out because you can’t pay bills X,Y and Z? Didn’t think so.

Another reason why I am an advocate for therapy. I can talk to my therapist about every single one of my problems. From problems with money, annoying family, annoying roommate, all the way to my draining Bill/Sookie relationship. Having a therapist does relieve some of the stress, it’s not the be all cure all, BUT it does help. There are other ways to reduce stress, my favorite is reading. Reading is an escape from reality, I have passed so many hours away by cracking open comic books and losing myself. Doesn’t mean when I’m done reading I’m instantly emerged back into the crap that is called life. While I’m reading, I’m meditating and doing some deep breathing at the same time. It helps, again not a cure, but it helps.

Since I have stressed myself into being sick I am currently on a ton of medicine. I’m not thrilled, but I know that I’m trying to live at LEAST ’til I’m in my late 70’s. I’m not trying to kick the bucket while I’m still young, I have a lot to do in this life.

Please pay attention to your health and don’t let stress overrun you that you’re one foot in the grave. Being beyond stressed out isn’t worth losing your life or your health.

If you’re at a point in your life where stress has overwhelmed you and you’re in crisis, call the toll-free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).