You raise some interesting questions, E. For years, everyone *knew* that stomach ulcers were caused by stress, and when some bright fellow discovered that they were actually caused by helicobacter pilori, nobody wanted to believe it because it spoiled a perfectly good theory. This was only a couple of years ago, too.
On the other hand, for years, I have known when I was stressing myself out too badly, because I would start to get a sore throat, and if I ignored it and kept bulling away (whether I had a choice or not), laryngitis or strep throat. I don't know if you have ever been involved in athletics, I used to lift weights, and I learned the hard way about over-training. If one doesn't let the muscles rest between workouts, and the time depends largely on one's own conditioning, the over-training effect sets in, with a low-grade fever, all over achiness, almost like having the flu. The body needs to rest to cure itself.
It does seem awfully coincidental that I would come down with this disease at a time when 1)my formerly beloved partner dumped me, stole a case, and publicly trashed me; 2)my investments went to hell; 3)my husband started going over to a lady-friend's house on the weekends; and 4) I took a long vacation in my new truck, which involved driving me and the kids thousands of miles on my lonesome, sometimes for very long hours late at night. It also seems awfully coincidental that every time I get rid of a major stresser in my life, I feel much better.
I agree, there is a tendency to "blame the victim." At the same time, it is empowering to think that I can control my own illness, by cleaning up my act, as it were. |
