Changes..Stress..Welts and More!
Aug 9th, 2007 by Michelle
Well I guess I am in some-what of a setback. The past few weeks have been horrible! I have been dealing with financial stress, work stress, and the fact that I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL SCHOOL IS BACK IN stress, amongst other things.
See a few blog posts ago I thought I was bit by the No-See-Um bugs that caused hives. Now I am not convinced that is it. I have narrowed it down to Dermatographism.
Dermatographism (literally translates to skin writing) is NOT a case of hives. Many people have a naturally higher level of mast cells that release that histamine in response to physically scratching the skin. More commonly seen in atopic patients (those who have the gene with asthma, hay fever and eczema), dermatographism can affect anyone. You scratch and voile, the skin welts immediately. This may look like a hive, but it doesn’t act like a hive nor does it meet the definition. Depending upon how badly the symptoms affect you, the use of a variety of antihistamines may grant you the best relief.
I noticed that my welts only appear after I rub my skin or scrach my skin. I have had really itchy skin and I think its because I changed my laundry detergent and fabric softner to save money. I have learned a huge lesson here. Saving money may end up costing you more money in the long run.
Tomorrow I start the first session of my training for my new job. Anytime there is change in my life my anxiety goes through the roof. I am beginning to think that Generalized anxiety disorder is worst than a panic attack. At least with a panic attack it goes away after about an hour or so. I have had so many fears this past week. Here are a few.
- Fear of no-see-um invasion in my apartment. OK I am agoraphobic when things are bad and I am being bitten by bugs that are outside?
- Feared that they put something in my chinese food that caused a allergic reaction in me. All I had was sweet and sour chicken and some Chicken lo-mein.
- Fear that I was having allergic reaction to some fish my dad caught (Red snapper).
- Fear that my hives would send me into anaphalytic shock.
- I sprayed some raid in the back seat of my car yesterday and I was afraid that the fumes would make me pass out while I was driving and I would not be able to get help. (By the way I wasn’t sure if I could smell the raid)
- Fear I would be evicted because I am late on rent.
- So many more I can’t think of them all now…
If you haven’t noticed a lot of my fears come from food. I had this fear when I first started having panic attacks right around the time I had Joshua. I had post partum depression and was in a bad relationship. I had Kenny who was about 5 at the time and I was tired and stressed out. I guess the same thing is happening now (minus the pregnancy!) I am tired and stressed out and I am dealing with change. I was afraid to eat, sleep, drink, it was horrible!
The positive would be, when compared to a week ago my hives are MUCH MUCH BETTER! (Even when I don’t think so when I am stressing over them). After September my financial state will be much much better! More hours on job, no taking calls from bitching customers (Even though I REALLY do know they have a legit right to bitch). I am moving up to a “management” role at my job.
So I am going to find more ways to reduce stress. I started taking a Super B Complex vitamin so hopefully that will help. I am going to spend the weekend - OH I HAVE WEEKENDS OFF FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS! Ok sorry- lol - As I was saying, I will spend the weekend both resting and decluttering. I battled my laundry crisis. All laundry has been washed and folded. I just want to get ahead of things and plan better now that I will be working more hours. Menu planning is something I have started doing that way I am not tempted to order out and I can save money and reduce stress.
I’m so sorry to see you’re have a set back. Hang in there. Being over tired and stressed is a big trigger for me too. I get stressed because I can’t sleep or am tired, then I can’t sleep because I’m too anxious. Until I can break that, I’m out of luck. But knowing what is bothering me always seems to help at least a little. Does that help you?
Hi, I’ve just found your website and think it’s really helpful, especially because you’re the first person I’ve ever found (in the real or virtual world), who has such a fear of anaphylaxis. I broke out into hives after eating lobster a year ago, and ever since, I’ve had daily panic attacks for fear that I’ll have a severe allergic reaction to something, anything else. I’ve been to the allergist and he can’t find anything I’m allergic to, which leaves all this uncertainty and fear. It’s getting to the point where I can’t eat anything. How have you dealt with this particular fear? I’ve found it so crippling that I’m plummeting into a really horrible depression.
Thanks so much for your blog — it helps to read someone with fears like mine.