Loosing the Plot by Nicky Webber

Losing the Plot?

by Nicky Webber

I have a dirty little secret – something I have never told anyone so I want it to stay just between you and me. I will have to hunt you down and shoot you if you repeat this incident to anyone! It’s embarrassing and humiliating to relate – even here – but it’s the best illustration I have in explaining how symptoms of stress and anxiety may be from an entirely different cause.

About six years ago I went to get my eyelashes tinted. I calmly lay down on the beautician’s couch, but when I closed my eyes I started to sweat, my heart raced uncontrollably and I began to hyperventilate.

What the hell was going on? I had three children had been in two car accidents, been divorced and held down some very stressful jobs. I had never had this kind of response. It’s just plain ridiculous. Feeling very distressed, I persisted – my WILL would overcome my body! As the beautician daubed on the thick black dye on my eyelashes I really started to panic. I held my breath in a vane attempt to slow my breathing and control my erratic heartbeat. I didn’t want her to know I was feeling so out of control. I struggled to hide my anxiety. My palms were sweaty and I had an uncontrollable urge to open my eyes (and be blinded for life) and rush from the room! I tried to rationalize with my emotions. Stop it. Don’t be silly. You’ve had your eyelashes dyed at least a dozen times before. I came to the only logical conclusion.
Note to self: I’ve finally gone insane.

Like you, I used to be bullet proof! Like most people under 45 I could do anything, eat anything, drink anything and swan on through life oblivious…..
But then middle-age and everything started to change. It’s subtle at first. A gradual and insidious process. Bit by bit my true self was eaten away until you wake up and realize you are ghost walking in what used to be your life.
You don’t notice at first. You put the odd forgetfulness, or angry outburst and a whole range of other unholy transgressions, down to stress. Stress is the answer for everything that doesn’t quite fit with how life and you normally operate. Stress is the catchall excuse and rationalization for the following symptoms and if you say yes to five or more – then it’s you this article is written for.

• Anxiety
• Broken sleep
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Heart palpitations
• Hyperventilation
• Exhaustion
• Mood swings
• Unfounded fears or phobias
• Road rage – but not just on the road!
• Over reactions
• Distraction
• Poor concentration
• Tight chest
• Breaking into sweats
• Overwhelmed
•
Is this from Stress? Or are these symptoms from your failing ability to deal with stress? It’s more than likely your ever-expanding inability to deal with stress. What was the norm before – rushing to make an appointment – now becomes a heart palpitating frenzy of worry and pressure to get there on time.
I’ve changed my diet, doubled my vitamin intake, taken on regular exercise, avoided alcohol (the latter was only fleeting!), but nothing seems to make much difference.

Most of this new anxiety is related to the lower levels of hormones in your body – for both men and women. So Men on Pause too! You become more sensitive to any stimuli around you – respond with agitation to things you may not have bothered with in the past, or feel down and overwhelmed by stuff that would be literally water off a ducks back a few years ago. Hormones, and they are wide ranging, thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, etc etc, are all easing off as we grow older. But they are the key drivers to your mood and well being. What is really surprising here, is that many medical professionals don’t seem to connect these dots in quite the same way.
Recent research shows that up to one in four women and one in 10 men can expect to experience depression at some time in their lives. There is some evidence that it is becoming even more common in Western countries. It seems to me anxiety, stress and depression are clumped together and are at almost epidemic levels in our country. Every second person you talk to is on anti depressants or knows someone who is. I wonder if this is mostly wrong diagnosis – and GP’s treating hormone imbalances as anxiety and depression just dish our a quick fix anti depressant prescription.

The very best thing you can do for yourself and your health is to take control of your own well being. Know what questions to ask your medical professionals and seek advice and support from friends who are very often, going through very similar experiences. The 15 minute consultation at the GP isn’t going to fix your problem – unless you are extremely lucky to find one that has time and interest in your plight. After that eyelash incident, I decided I needed to take charge of my health, which led me to develop the healthy aging vitamin supplements we now offer online at www.healthscript.co.nz. Seek advice and professional help to make sure you get to the bottom-line cause of your state of being. Get a second opinion too!