Stress, stress, stress we hear about it on a daily basis and, as a sufferer of hives caused from stress, I am finally understanding what stress has done, is doing and will do.
The penny finally dropped a few months ago when I found myself with itchy whelps and bumps all over my body, and I began to remember I had this problem when I was a little girl.
I was 5 1/2 when my brother was born and I was sorely disappointed that he wasn't a she, and begun to imagine ways of ridding my life of him. My hives appeared six months later when my mother developed a benign tumor, and had to be hospitalized for surgery. A visit to the doctor and it was clear I was afraid of another baby coming to my world.
My hives didn't reappear during my parents divorce or my dad's remarriage to a wicked stepmother and her two ugly daughters, but stress for a teenage girl with raging hormones came in the form of hyperventalation. I thought I had holes in my lungs and I struggled to breathe, but it was all about stress within the blended family situation.
Somehow I graduated from High School, but became pregnant and married someone more dysfunctional than I was. I didn't realize the whelps on my wrists and occasionally my upper lip were hives, but they had returned.
Fortunately they were not a common event only few times during a 32 year marriage, but then I didn't know I had hives.
There times in all our lives that decisions are made without the help of family or friends, but you know seasons come and go and it was my time to go and get away from a stressful marriage. Finding a way to escape a gun carrying abuser is very stressful and I am thankful my heart was strong and healthy.
Difficult as it was to not only find a way to leave but to stay in hiding during a divorce is also a stressful situation, but the good thing was I had no hives. Of course you have to remember I still didn't know what hives were.
Divorced and remarried I moved to England for a few years where I found myself safe, but dealing with an outbreak of the shingles, which is also caused by stress. It would appear the domino affect had begun even though my stress levels were now almost non-existent.
My husband and I continued doing all the things we wanted such as traveling and living our life and things began to seem sort of normal and then we moved back to the states to be near family.
Funny thing about living close to families blended or not, they are stressed as well and want to share it with you. The problem is that most folks enjoy hearing about the aches and pains of others, somehow makes us feel better, but it doesn't.
Combine day to day activities such as work, family parties and the death of a parent and you have a wonderful recipe for stress. Now I had heartburn, racing heart, and yep you guessed it, hives!
Now with the internet I had access to medical sites and discovered very quickly what these nasty whelps were and they needed attention as soon as possible. The only relief I could deal with was an over the counter antihistmine on a daily basis.
So now you are probably wondering how am I doing, and I can honestly say I did get medical advice and treatment and I am getting better each day. I do believe overcoming the results of stress is understanding that you are stressed. Sounds simple but unfortunately for me it wasn't, but sharing some of my story is a strong perscription for a strong medicine.
Remember the next time you sense a stressful situation ask yourself two questions.
1. Do I want to get involved?
2. Do I need to get involved?
You will be surprised how many stressful dramas you can walk away from and live happily ever after.