Stressing Out

A little over three years ago, I began having horrendous headaches, as well as experiencing bouts of vertigo. Being someone who rarely gets headaches and had never had vertigo previously, I was understandably concerned enough to take time off from teaching to get it checked out. When the verdict came back as high blood pressure bordering on hypertension, I was floored.

However, I approached the diagnosis as I usually approach my life, with finding a plan to combat what was going in. My doctor gave me a prescription for medication aimed at lowering my blood pressure, but it came with a couple of caveats as well. I would have to work on lowering my daily number of stressful reactions, and I would have to adjust my diet. Sodium was no longer my friend.

“I also had to take action, to take control, instead of letting other people control how my interactions with them would go.”

Stress affects all of us in a number of ways, but for me it was through overthinking and overreacting. It affected me on my job and at home, and I had to find a way to stop doing all of that stressful thinking and reacting. I had to become someone who could just think and act, without going back over it with a fine tooth comb. I also had to take action, to take control, instead of letting other people control how my interactions with them would go. So, I began doing those things, making my decisions and sticking to them, and my stress was indeed lightened. The diet was another story, however.

Did you know that there is salt in everything that is pre-packaged? Salt acts as a preserving agent, particularly in canned goods. I love me some canned goods, so it was distressing to see that I would no longer be eating from cans. Or, if I was dying to have a canned good, I would have to rinse it completely to get all the salt off first. There went my soft pretzels that I adore, the salty potato chips, and salted crackers. Hello to Wheat Thins, to salt substitutes, and to eating more fresh foods. I make it sound so easy, don’t I? But it takes a lot of willpower every day, even now, for me to maintain my distance from salt and everything that contains it.

“The key to eliminating stress and keeping my blood pressure down is one word: moderation.”

And you know what I found out throughout this whole ongoing process? The key to eliminating stress and keeping my blood pressure down is one word: moderation. If I do everything in moderation, my stress stays low. Instead of getting angry because someone stepped on my favorite Yankees cap, I slow it down and remember that the cap is just an item, and it can be straightened out. Instead of working at 100% for eight straight hours, I work at 80% and I still get all the work done that I need to get done. Without all the stress. Moderation is helpful with foods too. Even though I can rinse canned goods, I know that some of the salt is still there, so I just eat a half serving instead of a whole one. The same is true with using salted butter when I can’t just substitute unsalted (which is indeed rare).

Now my struggle is taking my pills. It’s one thing to work on diet and lowering my stress, but my blood pressure needs additional help in staying below the critical line. I take pills twice a day to regulate my blood pressure levels, but they don’t help if I forget to take them. I have to stay disciplined enough to put it into my routine and never deviate from it, even on days when I don’t have to get up for work early in the morning. It works when I keep it regular, at the same times every day. I know it all seems like a lot to remember, but once you’ve gotten into those good habits it becomes a lot easier. I don’t think it’s ever easy, or ever second nature, but as long as it’s being done, none of that matters.

And having someone to hold my hand through these issues and stages is an absolute blessing. No matter what you’re going through, you need people on your side, and in your corner, to spur you on and help you achieve your best. How do you help lower your stress levels?

Sam