Some (more?) words on stress

I've been ill - again. I think it was my third - let's call it a cold - this season, or was it the fourth?

This is what's been happening recently. Last Friday I finished a paper and submitted it to a big Journal. Then on Monday I was the host for a visit from a possible host for a research stay abroad next year, which went well and was altogether a very pleasant meeting, but not without tension - not because he isn't nice, but because I wanted him to have a good time. On Tuesday I got some administrative details away from my desk. Then, on Wednesday, I "worked at home". Actually, what I did was kick back, read some books, watch TV and prepare for choir rehearsal, i.e. rest. Which I probably needed.

On Thursday I woke up ill.
Getting out of bed, the world was literally spinning. But, that sometimes happens when you get up too fast, so I thought little more of it, until I had eaten and dressed and the world STILL kept spinning. The symptoms were very similar to the infamous virus on the balance nerve, and I sincerely hope that's not it. However, because of a very deep antipathy toward the work to be done, I had a sneaking suspicion that it was mostly a rotten work moral. So I rested some, and made a valiant effort to get up.
I walked like a drunk lunatic and almost felt like throwing up.
So I stayed in. For four days.

The past week has had me reflecting on the different stress symptoms I've had over the past years.
¤ I blamed my stiff jaw and subsequent tension headaches on teeth movement, but the dentist wasn't convinced and suggested a acrylic splint to alleviate tensions overnight.
¤ After having a neck with literally no lateral movement, the mouse is on the left side, for variation.
¤ I've had three occurrences lasting for around a week with shortness of breath-anxiety.
And finally, now the world was spinning.

It had it's moments. For instance, I was totally insulated from both internal and external impulses, which means I didn't waste a single moment on thoughts and worries.

Can't all be natural.
But as stress go, it's not a horrific list.
.....If I add mood swings, though.

Let's not!

Höras i veckan....

Den øverste sms-en i mobilen min sier

Vi kan höras i veckan.

Det er en ufattelig lite konkret melding. Hvem skal høre fra seg til hvem? Og når?

Blar bakover i tiden. Et par måneder tilbake er en melding fra samme person som er "sjuk och har ont i halsen. Höras i veckan?" Om jeg husker rett svarte jeg omtrent "sure, si fra når det passer". Det tok to uker. Deretter tok det ytterligere en uke før det ble noe møte. Og hoppsan! Der gikk 24 timer av en helg.

Etterpå bremset vi. Jeg, han, vi, misforståelser, omstendigheter?
Og jobb, ganske mye jobb.

- Kontrollbehovet er frustrert. Kontrollbehovet prøver å analysere fortiden og komme fram til en positiv prognose, basert på empiri.
- Det brente barnet var tidlig veldig stresset over ventetid, på grunn av en tidligere opplevelse med "Ringer deg i morgen" som betydde "Vi ses ikke mer". Sammenligningen har heldigvis blitt mer og mer borte.
- Optimisten tror at det er helt urimelig å tro at du spanderer middag og kommer i 30-årsdag den ene uken, og prøver å manøvrere deg bort de neste.
- Hedonisten ser seg i speilet med nye øyne og har kjøpt undertøy.
- Sangvinikeren smiler, og tenker 'glede er en gave'.

Ingen av dem er særlig tålmodige, men den Voksne minner om at viktige oppdrag er å ligne med overlevelse som faktisk går foran alt. Og et eller annet sted lengst inne streifer en tanke meg, at de beste tingene har skjedd når initiativene var hans. Så jeg får gi ham det. Og tar han dem ikke var det ikke liv laga likevel.

Vilken vecka, kära du.