Making Headway

I haven't posted anything in a while since I've been going through hectic stuff. I've hardly had energy to keep my life on track nevermind blog about it but I've learnt a lot - and fast. That's the intense part. Learning fast. In life, we usually learn things progressively but every now and then you just have to learn fast or you'll wipe out... Like a Roman Gladiator training in a gauntlet...

Modern meaning of Gauntlet (as per Google): Go through an intimidating or dangerous crowd, place, or experience in order to reach a goal.

I have quite joyfully discovered ways or means to cope and alleviate my symptoms (mood swings, hot flushes, mental confusion, poor memory, poor concentration, chronic fatigue, inability to cope with stress.. I think those are the main ones that have been affecting me daily/hourly/minutely, ugh let's cut to the chase, 24/7!)

I know many people have been praying for me and I appreciate it. I've also needed it more than at any other point in my life. I've been so close to death on occasion that I may even have got an early pass to the 27 Club but that isn't for me by the grace of God! And luckily I'm also not a musician and I'm not famous either!

Thank your for all your prayers and what not. And in the words of those little toy aliens in Toy Story, I am eternally grateful! :D
— Catherine Faull (@catherinefaull) March 6, 2012

I have discovered that my problems could not be fixed by getting my vitamins, exercising, using stress-relief strategies, prayer alone or spending time with positive people. Many people have made their suggestions and believe me I have tried these things. I am not so unlike yourself. I mean I did have a brain once - hahaha. Ok, that was a joke! Laugh! But something else was/is wrong that I needed to learn about, and I am still learning about. It's straightforward and exceptionally complicated all at the same time. Even doctors have no idea of the full story.

I have tried to tell/teach doctors what I have learnt and they tell me honestly they have not heard of these things before. One told me that what works for me might not work for others. If that is true, then how come the sources of my information and solutions are labelled for fatigue and they have been helping me. Somebody somewhere has done some research and found answers (This is a highly understated sentence), but who is willing to listen?

I really need other people to be on the same page with me. I need people (and the better "my solutions" work, the easier it will be able to listen to you, so you might not want to warn me against recovering haha!).

The original sources of my information have been Mary Ann Shearer (You can see her speaker's bio here and website here) and then a book by Dr John Lee who has passed away (His website still serves to inform and educate doctors and patients here). Both Shearer and Lee has researched hormones and the environmental influences on our endocrine systems. The primary recipients and interested parties are women but the more I learn about this the more I am realising that our hormonal/endocrine systems are being influenced regardless of age, gender or other factors.

I had no idea how crucial this topic was until recently and the more I talk with people (who would otherwise appear 'normal') the more I realise that everyone has one thing or other they are dealing with with regards to their hormones. Here's a list of what appears to me these days to often and highly likely be related to hormonal imbalance: (I've underlined the most widespread ones)

fatigue/improportionate exhaustion/difficulty getting up in the morning
difficulty falling asleep/insomnia
stress
mental confusion/learning disabilities/Alzheimers/poor memory/poor concentration/ reduced ability to listen/ forgetfulness
muscle weakness (If you're not as strong as you used to be it may not be just aging, genes, poor diet or stress)
bi-polar/mood swings/depression/mania

infertility (men and women)
improportionate irritability/aggression (road rage?)/bitchiness/PMS
endometriosis, polycystic ovaries (I don't know if I'm spelling these things right)
side-effects from the pill eg. migraines, depression, lowered immune system
post-natal depression

poor blood sugar balance
high/low blood pressure

If men still don't think this applies to them: consider the prevalence of baldness and hair loss, as well as a tendency towards fatty chests otherwise known as man-boobs or moobs, or also a tire of fat around the waist that you can't budge. These are all hormone-related!

When you realise that cortisol is a hormone, that is used by our bodies during times of stress and illness, you will then 'see' how we are using it up faster and requiring more of our bodies from a younger age than any other generation has before. Plus the chemical environmental (tap water, skin products, manufactured consumed chemical foods/drugs) in which we live is affecting our bodies without our conscious awareness or consent!

What we think is 'normal' these days is nothing like what previous generations experienced! Our 'normal' is not normal! In fact, an example is the prevalence of PMS and menopause symptoms.. they weren't such an issue in previous generations or even in non-westernised cultures. Also have you ever thought about why cancers of the endocrine system are becoming SO crazily common? Yes, I know, you'd rather not think about it, but if you do you'll start to notice the trends.

Ugh, I know many people won't want to hear or consider this. They'll think this doesn't apply to them and they may think they are immune but I want to start somewhere to make people aware of this and to show right from the beginning how serious this is.

I also didn't listen when I first heard about 'hormonal imbalance'. I only thought it applied to older people... you know, like the middle-aged, but truth is it's affecting all ages now and it doesn't matter any more how good your genes are because the balance isn't just programmed by your genes but also being influenced by a progressively larger amount of chemical influences in the modern world.

I've started taking responsibility for this new awareness in my life and things are falling into place. I am getting better at managing my propensity towards experiencing adrenal insufficiency (which is pretty much the same symptoms as menopause in my case) and I am not just willing but enthusiastic (as much as a previously fatigued person can be) to share this with others. I am still learning how to do it with moderation as I have a tendency to either overdose or else underestimate my need for help. I'm still learning, but thank God I'm making some serious headway on this journey :)