A sure sign that I am overwhelmed and stressed is when I start injuring myself in strange ways.
I've hit my head twice on counters hard enough to leave a bruise and a goose egg, one at home and one at school.
Then it gets weird.
Not the most flattering photo, but shows the impacts point and blackish eyes from a school incident with a chair. My students love to sit in the "comfy chair" -- a cushy office chair on wheels. They also like to messed with the settings and make it super low. I couldn't get it to come back up sitting on it, so I braced the base with my foot and pulled up as I pulled the lever. Unfortunately the student also tipped the backrest all the way back, and I got that lever by accident. It punched me in the face. I was very lucky that it wasn't a half inch lower or it would have likely broken my nose.
Then, after the Superbowl, I picked Lucky up to bring him to his food, and Bryce dropped a dish in the sink, making a loud noise. Lucky freaked out and...
I'm so lucky he missed my eye. The one by by nose was deep and bled a lot, and the one on my chin got caught and was more of a puncture wound. So now I'm on antibiotics and had to get a tetanus booster.
Plus my shoulder is still messed up from my fall in November and my PT thinks I might have torn my labrum.
I'm great. Everything's great. This year is insanely rough. I think the exhaustion makes me susceptible to accidents... The year we ended our parenthood journey had stress induced autoimmune issues, bit also accidents -- I broke a tooth, I fell on the sidewalk outside school, I fell on an ice skating trip. Gosh bodies are smart. I am so grateful for break next week. I need it so I don't literally come apart at the seams.
Oh geez! Life is literally beating you up. I fully agree about accidents increasing with stress. I remember Bryan and I both brutally stubbing our toes in the early months of 2020. Sounds ridiculous but they were bruised and sore for weeks. I twisted my ankle dreadfully the other day, out of the blue. Luckily healed quickly.
ReplyDeletePlease do take a break! It’s Teachers Convention in my city (online of course). Anecdotally I know a lot of people who are going to have a session on mute while they sleep or hang out in a hot tub. And zero fucks given. Please take care of yourself!
Oh Jess!!! I want to wrap you in bubble wrap! I am so sorry for your recent accidents. I can relate. I am clumsy anyway but especially so when stressed. We can only handle so much... And that is fine! I've been trying to lower my intensity level. It's hard. Everything is hard. So glad to read you have a break coming up!
ReplyDeleteOh Jess, I'm so sorry all this is happening to you. Bodies are smart. I hope you don't have a long to-do list for your break next week, but just get to read, relax and rejuvenate.
ReplyDeleteWishing I could wrap you in a gigantic hug. As Mali said, bodies are smart.
ReplyDeleteMy book club's next book is The Body Keeps the Score. I'll let you know if I can end up recommending it to you. In the meantime, I am holding space for you and your beautiful physical self!
Oh Jess!! (I thought I had commented on this post before; I guess not??) Sending (((hugs))). I hope you are on the mend by now -- and that you've had a good break to make up for all of this...?!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, that's a lot at once! I hope you recover quickly x
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