Being an adrenaline junky is not healthy, so when that adrenaline monster rears its head, be careful or it will consume you!
Unfortunately for most Fibromyalgia and Lupus sufferers, adrenaline is how we can get anything done.
Once my adrenaline kicks in, whether in creative thought or out of necessity, my body seems to abandon all reason and will kick into survival mode causing my adrenaline to overtake me and my mind. I will then snap into action, like in a rushed trance, and accomplish a lot in a little time.
Then, after I come down, I crash-and crash hard.
My husband I recently baby-sat two grandchildren at the same time. Even with two teenage daughters still at home to help, I was hurting the whole time. My adrenaline was on high because of the responsibility alone. But, after 3.5 days of non-stop cooking, cleaning, playing, bathing, washing and push-push, and then 3 hours in a vehicle to return the darlings back to their parents, my body was DONE.
Today, I have made myself stop and rest, because I just can’t keep going at that pace anymore, and my adrenaline still seems to be pumping through my veins trying to slow down to the turtle-like pace my body is insistently and currently moving at, fighting the adrenaline monster back into its cave at the same time.
Deep breathing, a jumbo heating pad for my spine and back, heated rice socks, lots of water and some Christian music is the order of my morning.
Yes, Lupus seems to be targeting my spine over the past week. The week prior, it was my knees, with both swelling up nicely, and the week before it was my shoulders, which I could barely lift.
I never know what it will be each day or week. But today, I rest in a quiet house-alone. On a normal day I am never alone, making it harder to rest-but not today… today I am alone with my heating pads and music…
Today, this gal will stop and breathe.
As I look out my windows at the sunshine dancing patterns of shadows through the sleeping tree branches and casting those shadows upon the snow, I am suddenly thankful for a warm house and a safe haven from the world. My family is good to me and urges me to rest when needed, and for that, I am blessed.
So, today I breathe and will keep watch for that adrenaline monster. It will get me every time, if I don’t keep a wary eye out.
So, from my home to yours, may you get through today without adrenaline. Pace yourself and try to take it easy.
~The Fibro and Lupus Momma of Ten
