The physical side

[Marianne]

Last weeks I've realised how much the chronic stress hurt me physically...and also how my physical problems made my emotional side a lot worse.

Trying self-care now.

I have a large myoma with lots of blood loss...having surgery soon..delayed that because of stress.

I have food intolerances. Docs long didn't believe me..but when I skip milk, I am so much better. Eati no even more clean helps more.

I have deficiencies...very severe and longterm anemia. I started supplementing and feel my strength returning.

I think when in emotional turmoil, we may forget physical self-care. And make things worse by that.

Just as a reminder. Even a few weeks of iron already stabilised my mood majorly.

[bloomie]

Marianne - you make such an important point and link the tendency to lose focus on our health and physical well being when in emotionally charged situations. How good to read you are shifting your energy to taking good care of yourself. Wishing you healing in every area of your life!

[Marianne]

Thank you! I thought it was important to mention... my deficiencies were neglected (by me and my docs both) for years...and I know I feel so much more emotionally and physically stable, when I eat allergy free and up my iron. Every time I slack on that, I find myself crying and despairing.

I think it is important to others as well... even just anemia, which is common and neglected... can change you from stable to depressed.

[JR]

this also happened to me with the stress and putting someone(narc stroke patient mother) elses health ahead of mine, i had nutritional deficiencies and low iron also, just by the fact i wasn't eating properly and timely, plus im diabetic which complicates more. being a target of narcs attacks puts your life into a tailspin, finances,health,social activities all are effected negatively because narcs like to drive wedges between you and them in order to isolate and then gain full control over your life, essentially you become a shell of what you used to be, got to figure it out and try to make an escape from them(no contact) seems the only route IMO

[Marianne]

Sorry you suffered that...

It is hard...I think my dad is autistic or ocpd and has learned narcissist behaviour...but is not a full blown narcissist. He has a good side.

And I can see how I contributed to the problem. I was a mess.

Also, my son stays with him and nobody believes me. I became so unstable he could not be with me. On paper I look like the crazy one.

So I have no idea how to escape. And if I should even give up on him, or keep trying to reach him.

[NBRiverGuy]

Yes. Take care of your physical health. It's easy to forget to do even basic things like eating. I had been so stressed about a situation last week that I realized that I had not eaten an actual meal in three days.