Standing, facin’, all mirrors are erasin’
Losin’ beauty, at least at times it knew me
Standin’, facin’, all mirrors are erasin’
Losin’ beauty, at least at times it knew me
All Mirrors: Angel Olsen
Over the last couple of years, each time I’ve seen my dentist I have spoken to her about my gum issues.
This is gonna get gross. [squeamish people look away!!]
I get stressed because I remember some mouthwash/ toothpaste advert where the actor brushed her teeth, there was blood, and then her tooth fell out. And ever since then I’ve pretty much had a panic attack at any speck of blood when I brush my teeth.
And each time, over the past few years, when I see my dentist (religiously once a year) she has asked if I am stressed. She asks about my job, what’s going on in my life. Because any gum issues aren’t to do with my teeth; apparently they’re healthy. Gum issues and blood when I brush my teeth is purely stress related. (So I need to stop worrying about losing my teeth!)
Physical signs of stress are not new to me. They’re what I’ve lived with for years. My eczema has been treated with steroid creams for as long as I remember. At one point, mid-university, I had to be referred to a dermatologist because my skin was so bad. I would scratch in my sleep. Watching ‘Black Swan’ was predictably traumatising and triggering for me. (Here’s the trailer in case you haven’t heard of the film!) It’s very dark and I would be careful if you could also be triggered by anxiety or other mental health depictions.
I used to scratch my skin without noticing. Flare-ups would cause me to scratch in my sleep with no way of controlling it, other than to take antihistamines in a desperate attempt to stop the irritation.
It’s so clear to me, after having to deal with mental health illness, that my eczema is linked to triggers, lack of sleep and bouts of mental illness. Stress, PTSD symptoms and then physical symptoms come linked, often.
There has even been very recent studies linking autoimmune diseases and mental health illnesses, such as psychosis.
My mental health issues follow a genetic line of similar illnesses. It is clear that trauma breeds trauma, but now there are signs that predispositions for mental illnesses can be genetic. My psychiatrist told me that I’m more prone to stress than the average person, and I am learning to live with it.
“Like fever and pain, anxiety and low mood are useful normal responses to some situations.”
Good Reasons for Bad Feelings- Randolph M. Nesse
Sometimes I feel sick when I’m anxious. I’m more likely to become ill with a cold. My immune system is weak.
My experience has demonstrated to me the link between mental and physical health. And often, the things that help me deal with my mind are physical activities such as yoga, cycling and open water swimming. I try and pair different aspects of the 5 ways to mental health.
So let’s look out for physical signs of stress. Because they can be signals to mental health. Let’s link the both and not dismiss the physical symptoms of stress.
Annie x
(Not technically a mental health professional yet, but I’m planning to become one!)
AnCarrot Rose Rants 