Reducing my stress helped me better manage PNH symptoms

Battling aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) can be stressful. As the World Health Organization notes, “the way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.”

For me, stress is a huge trigger of PNH symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog, bruising, and headaches. Over the past 15-plus years, I’ve learned how to notice the signs of stress and adjust my life accordingly.

I first recognized that I needed to better manage my stress when I was working a full-time, 9-to-5 job. As I began to climb the corporate ladder, my responsibilities and deadlines increased, and I was stressed about succeeding in my role. It showed in the tightness of my stomach, the tension in my head, and the sigh of relief I exhaled after leaving work.

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I tried so hard to ignore my stress level and suppress my feelings, but it turned out I was creating a bigger problem: a state of denial that led to increased symptoms from both of my blood disorders.

I started to forget things because of brain fog. After work, I’d immediately go home and lie exhausted on my couch. I experienced intense headaches that kept me in bed with the lights off and not a peep to be made.

Many times, my brain fog caused short-term memory loss. My manager would give me a task to complete, and I wouldn’t write it down because it was simple and easy to remember. But when the deadline rolled around, I realized I’d forgotten to complete it. The stress of all the other tasks on my plate only exacerbated my forgetfulness.

Finding ways to reduce my stress level

As my mistakes became more frequent, I knew I had to find ways to combat my stress to succeed at work. I’d ignored the issue for too long, and it was time to learn how to fight it.

According to Rare Disease Advisor, in people with PNH, “periods of stress, such as infection, injury, trauma, surgery, or emotional upset, increase inflammation in the body and can worsen the breakdown of red blood cells by the immune system.” Understanding this process helped to normalize what I was going through and made me feel less alone.

It also made me realize that I needed to work on reducing my stress. The fewer symptoms I experienced, the more I could enjoy life. I didn’t want to worry about stress triggering issues that would deter me from a life experience.

Some changes I made were small, while others were more drastic. To help with brain fog, I kept a pen and paper on my desk at work and made notes about anything I needed to remember. These notes jogged my memory, kept me organized, and helped me prioritize tasks.

I also made big changes, such as switching careers to reduce work stress. I weighed the pros and cons of this decision, but ultimately, my health always comes first. This change alleviated much of my stress and improved my outlook on life.

Thanks to my bold moves, I feel much better these days.

Have you made any life changes that had a positive impact on your health? Please share in the comments below.

Note: PNH News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of PNH News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

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