Stress and what I’ve done about it

Earlier this year I admitted I was suffering from stress. I’d lost my drive and I wanted to give up. On top of that my skin was in a dreadful state so much so that I really didn’t want to show up but I did because that’s what you do isn’t it? Since my mother died in September 2023 I, along with my brother and sister, had an estate to deal with and to be honest the solicitors were less than helpful and it took way too long. We were all stressed by it. We had a complaint going on with the NHS about my mother’s dreadful care. All of us were traumatised by what we witnessed in the hospital. We had to clear her house, then clear our house as we were downsizing and moving into her’s. Our house went on the market and was sold and my husband and I sold a rental house and our home in France. And then we moved onto having our house, which was my mother’s, renovated. It’s nearly finished and I love it but a house filled with workmen (nice though they are/were) and the dust was really what finished me off!!

So this is what did I because as I write this I am feeling so much better.

I told someone .. I have been working with a homeopath and she was getting to her wits end trying to work out what was the cause. II told her how I was feeling and it was such a relief to have it recognised and acknowledged. And also it gave her something to work on to sort my skin out which is now so much better

I knew I had to make some changes to my life; not a lot .. but something had to give. I joined a choir which I absolutely love. Singing and music has always been a therapy for me. A friend recommended a gong meditation, I went and it was blissful. After the first time I went I felt better than I had in ages. And finally I started finishing work between 4 and 5 so I could do something else. As I am writing this now I am planning some time in my garden. It could be a walk or a read or even helping our house get sorted.

And the result? My skin is way better, I’m more focussed when I work my business and my energy and drive is on the way back . So I am so grateful that I decided to take charge and not go down the way that I did all those years ago when the result was burn out.

So my conclusion and advice to anyone reading this is don’t just keep on going because you feel you should and you will get over it. Tell someone and do something about it. The person you tell is not going to judge you and stress just isn’t worth it. It can impact your health in so many ways and the relationships of the people you care about most. Get off the hamster wheel and do more of what you love. Because I’d been down this route before I knew what it felt like and I knew I wasn’t invincible! Plus I am 20 years older, I’m more aware of time passing and only having one life and I want to enjoy it.

We are all experiencing stress to some degree or another in this crazy noisy world. We are the only people that can do anything about it for ourselves. We need to be in charge of our lives not victims of our circumstances. My intention is to live on purpose in a spirit of calm and joy. It takes work but it’s worth it. And now? I’m off for an hour in my garden!