Craphouse work

I am stressed. Not as much as my patients, but still it’s an uncomfortable feeling.

The patients I talk to day in and day out say things like: my back is sore, my arms are sore, my neck is sore, and my ankles ache for no reason; my father just passed away, I’m looking after a bed-ridden mother in law, and my daughter has just started dating a boy that I don’t like. I’ve recently had problems working my normal hours – due to the pain – and am now hating work due to everyone treating me like a malingerer and I’m struggling to meet my mortgage payments now. I’m also arguing regularly with my husband because I can’t have “relations” with him due to the pain. I’m not stressed though. Really I don’t feel stressed. Did I mention that I can’t sleep at nights cause my mind is racing – I can’t seem to shut down. What’s wrong with me?

It’s STRESS. Or Pressure. You know they released a study the other day that showed that stressed people died earlier (suffering from cardiac disease and other organ problems) than less stressed ones. STRESS it’s a killer.

I’m not as stressed as that. Though interestingly enough, listening to people tell me things like they are stressed somehow make me feel stressed. It's all very draining - I don't know how psychologists do it. I also know that I’ve had one or two restless sleeps in the last week – very uncommon for me - and I’m not enjoying work. I feel overworked - even though I'm only just doing 40 hours a week. I even think about work after work time … I’d call that stressed! I'm sure acknowledging to yourself that you are stressed and planning to manage it helps though. A trip to Dubai to catch up with good friends helped momentarily, but there's only so far a nice meal at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant carries you :) (it was exceptionally good mind you - and great to see you M&B!)

And, unfortunately the complaints have continued climbing – now 10 new ones (not all attributable to me) in the last 2 months! Aye carumba!