Why can't I handle any kind of stress? Please help.
 

Hello

Can someone please help me understand why I can't seem to handle stress? For the last three months I have not been working because the work stress was too much for me to handle. So I have been feeling good lately because mostly my days consist of doing various therapies, walking, light gardening, laying in the sun, and other restful activities. Very low stress.

We have to transition out of our current home into a new one, and this past weekend we were moving some of our stuff to the new home. I wasn't actually doing any of the moving, but helping to organize and do some cleaning. I also had family in town and we weren't getting along very well.

So all of this stress combined seemed to turn me into a big ball of intensified concussion symptoms. The insomnia came back, and not being able to sleep just made everything worse. I also am now feeling very emotional and crying, which happened all the time earlier in my recovery. I feel like the weekend made me go backwards.

Why does stress make everything worse? Before my injury, I could handle things like this no problem. How am I supposed to go on living a life if I can't handle even the smallest stressful event?

The usual human stress response is shallow breathing and muscle tension, both will tax a body or mind that is vulnerable..

Have you read or watched videos about diaphragmatic breathing/relaxation ?

Doing it while in the corpse pose is very relaxing also.
https://www.google.com/search?q=diap...athing&tbm=vid

RRC,

I am much more sensitive to about anything now...I fall apart at work over little things, used to be a rock. I am fortunate to work with family who help me along a lot but it sure bugs me to be less than I was.

I always enjoyed wind blowing cuz it brought us a day off during our busy time of year...this year it makes me a bundle of nerves. It is so weird how what was once routine can be anything but now...I certainly hope this passes.

Bud

Thanks Bud. I hope this passes for both me and you too :)

And I know exactly how you feel about wind. It bugs me so much! So weird!

Try taking a magnesium supplement, it should help somewhat.

I think it's any change that causes the stress because we have to think about it which causes our over sensitive nerves to overload. I still get anxious over keeping appointments and have to tell myself to chill. I second the breathing exercise advice, learning relaxation methods can help a lot. I think the restful activities you listed are excellent, but I realise we can't always have it that way :-)

Super E,

I think you are correct about change. In the morning I worry about going to work and in the afternoon I worry about leaving work. Such a strange journey....never been here before!

Bud

The breathing exercises have helped me a ton! It started out taking me 30+ minutes to calm down now I can do it relatively quickly and usually people don't notice I am even doing it. I still freak out over little things but I am in, at least I feel I am in, more control