I always thought that I dealt with stress well. But I discovered recently that ,while my mind might be processing the stress ok, my body really isn't.
I'd been suffering with terrible headaches for months, and slowly realised that they were actually starting in my jaw and radiating to my temples. A chat with The Boy confirmed what I already suspected: I've been grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw at night, to the point where the whole joint is in agony every morning.
It makes sense really: I work in a high-stress profession and this year I am being challenged with a new role which I love, but which is taking up a lot of extra time and energy. Then a recent family bereavement led to all sorts of things to think about and process. I guess my body was telling me that I need to chill out.
Long-term, there are solutions I can seek with my dentist and my GP, but this weekend I needed to find a short-term solution to the stress and pain. And my solution?
JUST STOP.
Stop everything. Cancel plans. Don't set my usual goals for the weekend. Expect to achieve nothing.
This was so hard for me. I like to be busy at weekends, out and about in Leicester or travelling, or if I'm at home I'll make a list as long as your arm of things to bake, sew, write, read, watch...
I didn't do any of that. I just hibernated and slept and ate and hung out with my boy. I did do some making and baking, in the end, because I felt like it. And I went for a walk. But that's it. And on Monday morning I felt a million times better. My jaw and head still aching a bit, but a tolerable level of pain rather than "oh my gosh, I want to rip my head off".
It was a real learning experience for me, to realise that it can be ok to pause and take time out. I just hope I remember that in future, before the stress and pain get as bad.
Oh no you poor thing! Taking it easy is good for the soul!
ReplyDeleteOuch! I had a similar thing - I was getting what seemed to be frequent migraines; turned out I was tensing up my shoulders and my jaw (not grinding my teeth, but sort of pushing it into odd positions and sitting like that for a long, long time without ever realising). It took a stupidly long time and lots of tests to realise that was what the problem was - I'm not sure if it started because of stress or what, but now that I'm aware of it I can consciously relax my shoulders and face and haven't had a headache since. Hope this is the last of yours, too!
ReplyDeleteDuring the day I'm able to catch myself clenching my jaw and relax, but at night it's obviously involuntary. It's been a lot better these past few days but as the work week draws to a close, I definitely notice it getting worse. Grrr stress!
DeleteYou definitely need a rest! I think teachers have a total guilt complex about taking time off and feel they must always be doing something!!! Take it easy more often!x
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, even if I'm not doing anything related to work I always feel guilty if I'm not achievening something.
DeleteSorry about the headaches Janet. I find it amazing that so often we show symptoms of stress when do not think we are stressed at all. I have gone back to a Body Stress practitioner who works on pressure points. Works for me.
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