Health update
Meh. So it appears that I have systemic problems with my kidneys. My roommate, who's been an acupuncturist since before I was born, thinks that it's got something to do with my childhood, the way it shaped my reaction to stress.
Basically, if you've got anxiety and feel like you need to constantly be 'on guard' or 'watching your back,' your adrenal glands go into overdrive, which causes all manner of unpleasant things. And looking back on my life, yeah. My relationship with my parents was pretty bad, as they have a tendency to cause lots of unwanted drama, or to take out their stresses on other people. They put up a decent façade, but when it comes down to it, the whole lot of them should be medicated, and they're not. I was kind of reclusive until high school because I didn't want to draw any attention my way. I spent a lot of time alone, in my room, reading, because I didn't want to present a target for their constant stream of denigrating criticism. I just never really fit in, I was the odd duck. I never really knew that I was outgoing until mid-high school and college, because I was holding myself so tightly-- I was so tense.
My life has been so much better since I became financially independent and moved out, but to a certain extent, I still am very tense, though I'm getting better. I'm certainly much better socially, but in times of stress I still kind of pull back and buckle down on my own. I shut myself in my room for lots of quiet time. I write things out until they make sense. It's my coping mechanism.
Unfortunately, it has really weakened my kidneys, as a result. I'm constantly vigilant about UTIs and kidney infections-- I have a bottle of cranberry pills either on my person or wherever I'm staying at all times. I drink about two bottles of water a day, in addition to my normal fluid intake (coffee, juices, etc). When I feel something coming on, I have a tendency to pound the uva ursi and garlic capsules, too.
For the last few days, I've felt a dull ache there. It's not escalated into the inescapable, incredibly painful 'reduces Christina to a teary, yowling mess' hospital visit just yet, but that's probably because I'm keeping myself super-hydrated and filled to the brim with vitamin C. Still, summer is the worst time of year for all manner of kidney-related issues, and I'm kind of worried.
Dixie's going to start an acupunture treatment with me. I'm incredibly nervous. I think being anemic has conditioned me to be terrified of needles-- I once passed out while having blood drawn. I know that they're tiny and you're not supposed to feel them, but ehhhh. I get a feverish flush just thinking about it, and not the good kind. I don't get myself. I've tried all manner of pain-for-pleasure things and loved them, but I'm honestly freaked out by a few tiny acupuncture needles.
Basically, if you've got anxiety and feel like you need to constantly be 'on guard' or 'watching your back,' your adrenal glands go into overdrive, which causes all manner of unpleasant things. And looking back on my life, yeah. My relationship with my parents was pretty bad, as they have a tendency to cause lots of unwanted drama, or to take out their stresses on other people. They put up a decent façade, but when it comes down to it, the whole lot of them should be medicated, and they're not. I was kind of reclusive until high school because I didn't want to draw any attention my way. I spent a lot of time alone, in my room, reading, because I didn't want to present a target for their constant stream of denigrating criticism. I just never really fit in, I was the odd duck. I never really knew that I was outgoing until mid-high school and college, because I was holding myself so tightly-- I was so tense.
My life has been so much better since I became financially independent and moved out, but to a certain extent, I still am very tense, though I'm getting better. I'm certainly much better socially, but in times of stress I still kind of pull back and buckle down on my own. I shut myself in my room for lots of quiet time. I write things out until they make sense. It's my coping mechanism.
Unfortunately, it has really weakened my kidneys, as a result. I'm constantly vigilant about UTIs and kidney infections-- I have a bottle of cranberry pills either on my person or wherever I'm staying at all times. I drink about two bottles of water a day, in addition to my normal fluid intake (coffee, juices, etc). When I feel something coming on, I have a tendency to pound the uva ursi and garlic capsules, too.
For the last few days, I've felt a dull ache there. It's not escalated into the inescapable, incredibly painful 'reduces Christina to a teary, yowling mess' hospital visit just yet, but that's probably because I'm keeping myself super-hydrated and filled to the brim with vitamin C. Still, summer is the worst time of year for all manner of kidney-related issues, and I'm kind of worried.
Dixie's going to start an acupunture treatment with me. I'm incredibly nervous. I think being anemic has conditioned me to be terrified of needles-- I once passed out while having blood drawn. I know that they're tiny and you're not supposed to feel them, but ehhhh. I get a feverish flush just thinking about it, and not the good kind. I don't get myself. I've tried all manner of pain-for-pleasure things and loved them, but I'm honestly freaked out by a few tiny acupuncture needles.