Reducing Stress

Over the past few months, since I was diagnosed with RA, several things have happened:

1. I have been on Methotrexate since the middle of August. We have upped my prescription twice, and I am now at the "full" dose for RA. It has been making my hair fall out, so I have also upped my Folic Acid and I am using keratin fibers to "fill in" the thin spots for my vanity.

2. I went back to teaching (part time) at the end of August. I love being back in the classroom. I am so thankful to be teaching only part time, so that I can take the time I need to adequately prepare at a pace that is not too strenuous for me.

3. Leif had a second surgery to repair his ACL. This caused some stress, which caused an RA flare up.

4. I have continued to eat gluten- and dairy-free and have no desire to return to life as it was before.

5. I have learned things about myself and my disease and am working with my rheumatologist to find a lasting balance that will keep my symptoms in check.

6. I am at the lowest weight I have been in the last 3 years!

REDUCING STRESS

I am convinced that some of my weight loss is because I have had to make a conscious effort to reduce stress in my life.

I don't have a social life any more, at least not one that has any resemblance to the life I had before. I have one small group of friends who come over on Thurdays and we have have a book study together. Right now we are reading "Breaking Bad Habits; Making Good Habits" by Joyce Meyer. It's a good read. I recommend it.

I don't really find myself craving food any more, since I cut gluten and dairy out of my diet. I have started working, so I find myself eating less because I'm focused on the lessons I'm teaching and preparing.

I have stopped exercising, mostly because Jazzercise no longer fits into the schedule I keep. I'd like to find an exercise routine that will fit into my schedule. I think it will help my joints and it will keep my stress levels down, both of which will help my RA.

I now only have time for God, family, and work. This means that I am better able to focus on God, family, and work.

I now have a daily / weekly schedule that I keep. It's a schedule that is working well for me and working well for Eliana. I have freedom with a part time schedule, but also have the structure that I have wanted for so long. So does Eliana.

So... how do I reduce my stress levels? First off, stress reduction is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity if I want to manage my RA symptoms. Stress actually makes me hurt. It flares up my immune system, which in turn attaks my joints. It's one thing to know that stress is bad for me; it's another thing to feel the pain stress causes. I know that if I stay up too late, I will hurt the next day. If I do too many things in a week, I will hurt the next few days. If I let situations get to me and get stressed out about them, I will have a flare up. If I procrastinate on my work and leave it until the last moment, it causes me physical pain. So instead of doing these things, I ....

1) Plan ahead. I plan my clothes for the week. I plan Eliana's clothes for the week. I make Eliana's lunches ahead of time. I keep food in my desk drawer so I am prepared if I forget. I plan out my lessons ahead of time so that I don't have that weekly task hanging over my shoulders. I plan ahead and avoid procrastinating.

2) I take one moment at a time. I am working on not "borrowing trouble from tomorrow." This means pushing things that worry me out of my mind and focusing at the task at hand until it is time to focus on the things I can do about my worries. It means I give my full attention to my students when I am teaching instead of trying to answer their questions and grade or write lessons at the same time. It means savoring the moment I am in and enjoying the present.

3) I go to sleep. I am still not the most consistent about bedtimes, but I am much more consistent than I was three months ago. I do not have the luxury of sleeping in any longer. As a result, I make a point to go to bed earlier.

4) I do my laundry on a schedule. Granted, that schedule is one weekend a month, but I know when I am going to do the laundry, so even if the basket is overflowing I do not feel the burden of the laundry because I know that now is not the time. Until, of course, it is time. Then laundry is about the only thing I get done over the weekend.

5) I say "no" to friends and activities that I would like to do. Sometimes other activities trump the "fun" ones. I don't apologize for not being able to attend every party or baby shower or get together any more. I would like to go. I could go.  But the pain is not worth the momentary pleasure of a coffee date or party. So I have to say no. A lot. And I'm sure I have a lot of friends who feel like I have abandoned them. I hope they know I have not. But I'm also not stressing over whether they feel deprived of my company, because that, too, would cause me pain. :) Stress is not worth it.

6) I take more baths. Baths allow me to relax, sit still, and soak my aching joints. In fact, I'm in the bath right now typing this, because they also let me mentally relax and give me the opportunity to think.

I have prayed for years for balance. It seems like I am finally getting the answer to that prayer, though I never thought it would come in the form of RA. But I am learning balance. Thank you, Father!