It was probably in October or November of last year when I noticed that I was feeling very tired all through the day, every day. No matter how much rest I got, I was always drained of any physical energy.
I put this tired feeling down to being, well, tired. Sick and tired. I was plagued by neck and shoulder tightness and headaches. By December, my symptoms of aching muscles and tiredness bloomed into complete loss of energy, still aching muscles and now, joints. My mood as well turned south.
In an attempt to explain my symptoms, I began to think that maybe, no, for sure, I was burnt out and needed a break. By January, I decided to take a week off and head south to Florida. I hoped that being away from family demands and work life would help me to re-charge my batteries. Unfortunately, I returned home only somewhat refreshed. My overall symptoms did not improve.
I finally consulted my family doctor, who put my symptoms down to possible depression. It seemed a plausible diagnosis. Achy, tired, lack of motivation, needing to sleep for longer and longer periods of time and the concurrent low mood due to months of experiencing the same old symptoms. But I did not feel sadness, was not especially bothered by any one or constellation of problems. I was not crying but was in fact feeling down because of the annoying physical symptoms I've mentioned.
I went back to my G.P. and he relented and had a slew of tests completed, including an abdominal ultrasound, and an x-ray of my chest. There was only one test which gave any direction to my physician. I had a very low level of vitamin "D".
I was prescribed 1000 iu of Vitamin D3. Still, none of the three doctors whom I consulted gave any indication that my physical symptoms had anything to do with my vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D can only be had from a few sources. As I later learned, people with darker skin tend to end up being deficient of the vitamin in northern latitudes during the winter months. I suppose most people get by as I have for the past 35 years in Canada. The two major sources of vitamin D in my life would be egg yolks and milk with my cereal. Unfortunately, neither of these two sources turned out to be enough this winter. Exposure to the suns rays, of course, is the primary mechanism by which people are able to produce vitamin D.
What exactly is Vitamin D good for? It is essential in aiding bone growth and maintenance, however, more recently there has been indications that it may prevent certain cancers, fortify the immune system, etc. Read about it at USA Today or at the CBC website.
2 comments:
"I have awaken in a cold heated Sweat - Dead to discover that Spirit without Matter is nothing!"
Taking care of yourself is the utmost priority. You are of no use to anyone in a dilapidated state. There is a tremendous amount of energy holding an office desk in a form resembling what we refer to as an office desk. And this is an inanimate object. How much energy is involved in maintaining the form of a "Zap"?
Have you ever observed someone make themselves physically ill by obsessing over particular ailments? Is positive thinking and affirmations of wellbeing good for the goose and not the gander? Stress!!! Bah!! Know yourself completely and understand yourself as an integral and eternal part of this cosmos! You are surrounded by energy - you youself are energy; and yet you cite a complete loss of energy. Would you have possibly preferred a diagnosis of Cancer to Depression? It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people go to avoid self realization. I believe it was good ol' SK (a happy man if ever there was a happy man)who wrote that by the age of thirty a man should know himself like he knows his own hand.
Imagine that you alone know the world will cease to exist at 6:45 pm tomorrow. There is nothing you or anyone else can do to prevent this disaster. There is a certain degree of peace that comes from being unable to change the inevitable. Worry about what we can change as all else is........have you been paying attention..... that's right.....Good Job Zap!!....Maya!!! (insert Hare Krishna Mantra here).
Quick fixes to burnout and depression: epsom salt baths, walks (take a break and walk around a bit and consume every ounce of beauty you come across- if you smoke - stop or at least don't stand smoking outside your office building..you can walk and smoke at the same time- meeting someone for coffee....walk and talk..people seem to open up more when eye contact is not expected), ABBA'a Greatest Hits, Monty Python's "Bright Side of Life" lyrics, Love everything and everyone you meet for no reason other than for being part of your world. Most importantly is to Love Yourself and Know Yourself.
Dylan Thomas' "The Song of the Mischievous Dog," may be the best poem of all time to alleviate burnout and depression. Wishing you all the best - A Non Ymous
A Non Ymous,
What can I say but thank you for your thoughts.
NOW GET BACK TO WORK!
Zap
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