Stress and Exercise

If you've read my last blog, you might have noticed I'm a bit stressed out. Stress and dysautonomia are not a good mix. Tense muscles, tension headache and anxiety usually lead to raised heart rate or blood pressure and sure to follow with a POTSy crash. Sensing a battle zone was about to march across my body I decided to form a preemptive strike and thought it might be a good idea to do some exercise and work out the stress build up.

Oh my goodness I had no idea how tense my body was! My body was unyielding and about as flexible as a thick bar of steal. Only superman would be able to bend this body (hummm... visions on superman's arms wrapped around my body gently.......oops, got a bit carried away there). So, where was I? Oh yeah my tense body, my neck was so tense I could barely touch my chin to my chest and my body seemed to fight every movement I made. Each joint snapped crackled and popped as I moved. Within five minutes every muscle was shaking in protest to the usually easy workout sequence. My jaws were so tense that I didn't realize I was holding my breath until the room began swaying as if I was on a boat in the middle of a hurricane. Now with every part of my body in mutiny I almost bend to the clawing of my will power that's threatening to quit. But being the stubborn German that I am I sternly force my body back into rank and finish up the torturous ending to my workout.

The workout did seem to relieve the stress in my muscles. Unfortunately Barnacle POTS decided to crash in on my victory dance, so I'm dragging myself to bed along with barnacle POTS. I'm really praying God sends me a better bed partner!

I should know better than to allow stress to take over. Stress is bad for "normal" people, it's a double whammy for us POTSies. I need to remember that God has taken me through so many trials that put this one to shame. I need to let go, trust God and look for the lesson in this.

Inspired,
Michele

Esther 4:1
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.
Esther 9:22
because on those days the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and it was a month which was turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor.