Health issues gone rampant
Jul. 8th, 2011 10:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
untonuggan posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
anxietysupportI'm currently having some snowballing of anxiety and health issues creating a nasty downward spiral that is in and of itself anxiety producing. If these topics aren't triggering for you, feel free to keep reading.
THE BACKSTORY:
Last year I was largely incapacitated due to nerve issues in my foot (Morton's Neuroma) and other sundry issues. Ended up feeling really, really depressed and had to get treated for it. This year has largely been better, thanks to some physical therapy and a vacation where I got to do a lot of walking. I learned to ride a bike! I got off of a medication with horrible side effects! Things were looking up.
Possibly TMI for some folks - Then I started having really bad PMS issues. (One of the things they don't tell you about being a queer woman is that your and your partner's cycles may interfere with each other.) As in, I have had some sort of female hormone thing going on for about 2 months. And I haven't killed anyone (yet) which I figure is a minor miracle.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
I have been having dizziness and nausea of increasing intensity for the past 4-5 weeks. Since these are such common symptoms, I've been to a number of specialists (cardiologist, ENT, neurologist, you name it). They've played with my meds (always fun) and generally aren't entirely sure what's causing it. Plus an unusual number of headaches (migraine + tension).
The crappy thing is that exercise was my main coping mechanism. I'd just go to the gym and sweat a lot and build up endorphins and things would start looking up. But I'm not supposed to exercise, because (1) it makes the dizziness worse, and (2) they're afraid I'll fall and hurt myself. (Heck, I'm afraid I'll fall and hurt myself.)
But with all of this stress and the lack of exercise and coping stuff I've started having panic attacks again. As in, wake me up in the middle of the night. Which of course makes everything worse. And then I start blaming myself, or thinking it's all psychosomatic.
I've tried meditation in the past, and it's helped, but I'm WAY out of practice.
I'm feeling a little bit better since there's now a theory as to what's causing this: vestibular migraines, which are migraines that make you dizzy but may not give you a headache. Weird, I know. But that means it's super-duper-extra-important to deal with the anxiety.
THE REQUEST:
Anyone have any tips of coping mechanisms to try when you can't do much of anything due to health issues and are totally freaking out? Know of any good meditation resources or other kinds of relaxation techniques?
If you've read this far - thank you!
THE BACKSTORY:
Last year I was largely incapacitated due to nerve issues in my foot (Morton's Neuroma) and other sundry issues. Ended up feeling really, really depressed and had to get treated for it. This year has largely been better, thanks to some physical therapy and a vacation where I got to do a lot of walking. I learned to ride a bike! I got off of a medication with horrible side effects! Things were looking up.
Possibly TMI for some folks - Then I started having really bad PMS issues. (One of the things they don't tell you about being a queer woman is that your and your partner's cycles may interfere with each other.) As in, I have had some sort of female hormone thing going on for about 2 months. And I haven't killed anyone (yet) which I figure is a minor miracle.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
I have been having dizziness and nausea of increasing intensity for the past 4-5 weeks. Since these are such common symptoms, I've been to a number of specialists (cardiologist, ENT, neurologist, you name it). They've played with my meds (always fun) and generally aren't entirely sure what's causing it. Plus an unusual number of headaches (migraine + tension).
The crappy thing is that exercise was my main coping mechanism. I'd just go to the gym and sweat a lot and build up endorphins and things would start looking up. But I'm not supposed to exercise, because (1) it makes the dizziness worse, and (2) they're afraid I'll fall and hurt myself. (Heck, I'm afraid I'll fall and hurt myself.)
But with all of this stress and the lack of exercise and coping stuff I've started having panic attacks again. As in, wake me up in the middle of the night. Which of course makes everything worse. And then I start blaming myself, or thinking it's all psychosomatic.
I've tried meditation in the past, and it's helped, but I'm WAY out of practice.
I'm feeling a little bit better since there's now a theory as to what's causing this: vestibular migraines, which are migraines that make you dizzy but may not give you a headache. Weird, I know. But that means it's super-duper-extra-important to deal with the anxiety.
THE REQUEST:
Anyone have any tips of coping mechanisms to try when you can't do much of anything due to health issues and are totally freaking out? Know of any good meditation resources or other kinds of relaxation techniques?
If you've read this far - thank you!
no subject
Date: 2011-07-09 02:25 pm (UTC)That list sounds interesting, too - let me know if you are up for sharing anything on it!
no subject
Date: 2011-07-10 08:04 pm (UTC)Just checked my list, and I don't think it fits your situation the way I thought it might. Here are a few things from it that are not specific to my particular situation:
+ have an emergency contact list of people who can give you support (best friend whom you've talked to about this, therapist, etc.)
+ for getting through situations that seem too huge to deal with, just focus on the smallest step possible, the next 5 minutes or even smaller amount of time
+ accept that there are reasons why [situation] is happening that are not your fault, that you are okay and a worthwhile person