Gastrointestinal Fork In The Road

Life happens quickly. One moment you’re floating along and going with the flow, and the next moment you’re navigating uncharted waters, paddling against the current, getting tossed around, drowning, or not going anywhere at all.

This is make or break time for most of us. I’m one of those people that bulldozes through it; just stay out of my way - I’m irritable and critical. Other’s take themselves out of the game all together; cynically benching themselves. Some hang in there and go through the motions with a lack of enthusiasm; preventing any consistent productivity, and very little job satisfaction.

Most Stressful Jobs In The United States of America in 2019 72.58% of enlisted Military personnel, 72.38% Firefighters, 61.2% Airline Pilots, 51.94% Police Officer… That’s just the top four reported in the United States in 2019.

Of those surveyed in 2019, 66% of Americans say ‘keeping myself or my family safe’ are an area of concern that causes them anxiety. 66% ’paying my bills or expenses’, 64% ‘my health’, 51% ‘the impact of politics on my daily life’, 48% ‘my relationships with family, friends, and coworkers’. The list goes on…

When we’re caught up in our jobs, friend’s lives, t.v., hobbies, to the point where we neglect our own holistic health by missing the signs and symptoms of burnout. By the time we feel run down, the damage has been done, and now our body is calling for a time out.

 …3 months later.

Edith was transferred and my workload doubled. I was handling the extra work at the expense of going to the gym and eating regularly. Sunday’s became catch-up day at the office, and follow up with my team.

After our team meeting on Monday morning I squatted down beside my desk to relieve a little lower back pain, and as I exhaled I became a little dizzy. I walked outside to catch a breath of fresh air. The fresh air and sunshine felt good. So, I got in my golf cart and took a drive around the campus.

I saw a group of people on the lawn, “Oh great” I thought. “Please don’t tell me we have corporate yoga.” Isn’t that like a religion or something? I drove by for a closer look, and it was Edith and her team; about twenty or so in all. I thought, “Nope, not yoga”, because they were smiling and having fun. They were paired in two’s and Edith was demonstrating. I laughed to myself and thought, “Yep she was a good hire.” Her antenna was up (link to blog 2) and she headed in my direction waving for me to join. “Oh yea, that’s a big N-H” (Not Happening), I thought shaking my head ‘No’. Edith glowed in the sunshine. Her eyes and bright smile widened as she extended her hand to shake mine. Returning the smile, I said, “Hi” and shook her hand. Edith pulled me out of the cart saying, “C’mon - I need a partner for this next stretch.” My knee’s creaked and cracked, and I sarcastically replied, “How could I say ‘No’ since we’re already here.”

The stress, long hours, poor sleep, inconsistent diet and exercise didn’t let up, and it started to take its toll. My overall mood began to change, and my GI Tract (link) let me know how unpleased it was with my lack of regular self-care. I was run-down, and exhausted.

Burnout isn’t just occupational, there are other contributors that throw us into the deep end of life.

After meeting with ‘the doctor’ that Edith referred, it turns out that (*13) stress is a ‘thing’. I always heard it was the (*17) silent killer, but you audibly can’t hear it unless you’re aware of (*14)it’s language and its (*15) symptoms. I thought my short temperament, explosive reactions, and continuous sighing were because of the people I work with, and not my mismanagement of stress which was causing the physiological symptoms of acid indigestion. And most of the symptoms I was experiencing were the side effect of the OTC & Prescription Meds! I was relieved to find out it wasn’t me, and at the same time I was furious with those drugs being readily available in my grocery store.