No Doubt About Impact Stress Has

100%

When I finally get a bunch of projects done, I feel way more relaxed and sleep better because of it.

Had jobs in the past that I will never do again, not worth it.

I find winter weather stressful, the frozen north is hard on vehicles (things just break), accidents happen, snow delays, and lack of daylight adds a whole 'nother list. But spring always happens (I cant wait!).

My sibs stopped the xmas gift giving, we all have enough stuff. Better that way, no more getting stuff no one needs.. Presents are for kids.

Holy Basil is a friend of mine.

i can relate to that RW

i used to be on of the most resilient people i know when it comes to stress - or stressful situations

in fact i made a living as crisis or change management in struggling businesses - often customers would be very upset when i got there, internal conflicts would be raging, politics could be toxic etc and this would all take months or years to straighten out, during which time stress would be high and continuous. before Lyme i could tolerate this just fine, eat well, do exercise - it seemed fine.

with lyme and its co-infections i became unable to tolerate even moderate stresses.
stuff i would have glided through before would cause all sorts of symptoms flares.

driving even 30minutes would be enough to set it off - and i normally enjoyed driving - had a little sports car.
socialising became extremely taxing - just making conversation was difficult and gave me a headache
often either of these or especially both of them combined - say we made a social visit of some kind with friends or family - could often render me in a state where everything hurt - especially my head - i became sensitive to light and noise of any kind and just had to lay down in a dark room and wait for the worst to pass.

even the recovery from this was slow - maybe 50% better the next day and 50% better again the next - so it would take days to climb out of the fog and fatigue.

i have read may accounts that are similar in people with Lyme and occasionally with other conditions that involve fatigue and CNS symptoms.

chronic stress and its negative impacts on health are very much underacknowledged in our western society - and stress management management is very much unrecognised as a health promoting activity.
when you are chronically ill with a rampant inflammation triggering illness - you are permanently stressed in multiple ways - biologically, mentally, emotionally - any additional acute stressor can push you over the edge into a flare.

our western culture instead values traits and behaviours where people pretend they are impervious to stress on the outside - while those same people are often going home and crying into their duvet about their financial troubles etc