Let’s talk about managing stress and anxiety.

My expertise comes with no pedigree as I’m only speaking for myself based on my own experiences and results. So, take that for what you will, but certainly don’t take it for advice.

It’s no secret that I struggle with anxiety and depression. Or maybe it is because I feel like I hide it relatively well and that people just think I’m an antisocial bitch. While not entirely wrong I prefer the term “pro-solitude” to “antisocial.” I don’t know how much of the anxiety and depression are related to fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis, but my moods and my pain levels tend to run around in circles after one another.

At the start of March I decided to do something about it. I’m not a prescription seeker and generally try to find more natural remedies to the things that ail me. Still, I’d noticed that when I’d take my tramadol for pain, it would lighten my mood. It turns out this wasn’t my imagination or just my being happier with less pain, it’s a real thing. Again, I’m no doctor so if you are interested in why this is, please read HERE. What this showed me was that there is an imbalance in my brain that responds to treatment.

I did a lot of research and reading on supplements that help alleviate anxiety, depression, and pain. I also did a lot of research on what supplements could have potential interactions with my prescriptions. I finally settled on Sunny Mood by Irwin Naturals. (Nope, not endorsed by them, but if you go by how much my husband talks it up since he started taking it you’d think he was.) It works. It just does. I even brought it up to my doctor and she gave me her stamp of approval to keep on truckin’.

Besides being able to better handle stress at work, I don’t cry every day anymore, and I’m not taking as many pain killers. Last week I put on the NCAA DI Track & Field West Prelims and all through the planning process leading up and all the way to the second to the last day of the meet I didn’t break down. I snapped over golf cart keys on Friday morning, but no one is perfect. These gigantic yellow pills have been a saviour.

Besides the addition of Sunny Mood I’ve also been practicing presence and mindfulness and studying Buddhist philosophy. I’m calming the fuck down and it has me reevaluating so many things in my life. But that’s another post.