Stress and Poop

I have been to the Dr more then one time over the past 9 years of living in Florida and been told, "You just need less stress" or my all time favorite, "You just need to poop".  If only either of these things was that easy. 

I underwent a series of stress tests several years ago, because I had an irregular echo come back...what they found...high stress.

- had a 9 month old

- husband had been laid off

- foreclosing on our first house

- getting ready to move

- working full time

After all that, what is there to be stressed about?  Stress is the driver of more internal issues then most people realize. 

Physical Symptoms of Stress:

- Aches and pains

- Diarrhea or constipation

- Nausea, dizziness

- Chest pain, rapid heartbeat

- Loss of sex drive

- Frequent colds

SO, or course I was not pooping, not sleeping and constantly having chest pains (twice admitted to the hospital).  After starting the Greens and no more Diet Coke I have not had an anxiety attack!!  HURRAY!!  This was a big deal for me...so then I needed to balance my bowels (something that is still in process :) ).  I knew that if I got myself balanced the poop would come (I can hear Kevin Costner saying "If you build it they will come"...hahahaha, okay back to my post)

So, the moral of this post is this.  Poop is important...what ever your regular is.  Some people poop 5 times a day, others every other day.  Every body is different.  Don't underestimate what being regular can do for you!! :)

and

Do what you can to make the best of your situation.  You can't take away the stress (at least most of the time), you can't make money grow on trees, but you do have control over what you are capable of.  You do have control over how you manage your happiness.  I am learning that happiness is the killer of stress, or at least some of the symptoms.  I am for real when I say that since I embarked on this journey I have not had a, what I refer to as, "life stopping" anxiety attack.  I have a little one here or there is something stressful is happening at work, but not the ones that used to stop me from living my life. 

I am not saying that happiness and pooing go hand in hand always, or that either will fix any problem, but today, for me they did!! 

-E