Howdy!! Sometimes life changes are expected, welcomed, and can happen gradually. Other times, you might find yourself in a situation where a change is necessary for your own well being. Whether it be a high stress job, toxic relationship, or an environment that no longer feels safe – it is so important to formulate a plan and follow through to get yourself back on track. Listen carefully to your mind and body because if you are in tune with them, you won’t miss the warning signs they are sending you to consider other options. I recently found myself in a situation that warranted a change, completely ignored my better judgement, and ended up with true, noticeable physical symptoms of duress. If you are experiencing any of the following in your situation, it’s time to reevaluate things:

Loss of Appetite:

I have always had a very healthy appetite and look forward to eating my favorite foods at mealtime. That was not the case at all recently. I was SO stressed out and under SO much mental strain that my appetite completely went out the window. I wasn’t feeling hunger and literally had to force myself to eat. Even with my favorite dishes in front of me, I could barely muster taking a bite, let alone finish the entire meal. And, oftentimes, I was left nauseated after a couple of forkfuls. Combined with the next symptom we are going to discuss, I was literally running on fumes. The good news? After I implemented my change, my appetite came back and I was ravenous. I would have a meal, an hour or two later I was starving, and I would eat again. I clearly had a lot of catching up to do!

Disturbed Sleep:

When you sleep, your body is healing itself. When your sleep pattern experiences a shocking alteration, all I’ve got to say is good luck tomorrow lol. Racing thoughts kept me up until all hours of the night for days in a row and my anxiety was so heightened it felt like a constant panic attack. My heart consistently felt like I was running a marathon and it was so exhausting. Paired with not sleeping and barely eating, I was in full fledged zombie mode and getting through each day felt impossible. The good news? After I implemented my change, I slept like a baby! I am still catching up on my Z’s and I actually had to lay down in the middle of writing this. Never, ever devalue the power of a good night’s sleep because it is going to catch up with you quicker than you might think.

An Unexpected Visit:

For people who menstruate, I am talking to YOU lol. This might be TMI and I don’t care. During an extremely stressful situation a few years ago, my hormones got super out of whack and it triggered a period. I had no idea that could even happen and ended up going to the ER. It was scary! This past week, I had a surprise period weeks before I was due for my cycle. When I was greeted with this unexpected guest was when I decided enough was enough because it was like the trifecta of awful: No sleep, no nourishment, and a wicked early period to boot. The evidence at this point was indisputable and I needed a change ASAFP.

Getting out of a difficult situation can be SO hard even if the change is nothing but positive. Remember that no one can discredit your feelings and doing what’s best for you is the most important thing!

What is something that stresses you out? Do you struggle with making changes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah