Finding energy after illness

I've been feeling out of sorts recently, with a cold at the start of the year, unfortunate timing. I felt low on energy. When I started to recover in February, I did feel well for about 12 days. I had a lot of things to do and things to catch up with. You probably know how it goes:

• You start to feel better, so you think 'Right, I will get on with a heap of tasks right now'. 
• You get behind with domestic chores, so there's a concern about wanting to tidy up the house.  
• Missing your friends where had to cancel previously, so you want to see them, and end up tiring yourself out when you do!
• Work = Clients wanting time with me. I like to fit with their schedules as much as I can, so working some evenings as expected. Led to feeling tired (sleeping less well due to a cold) 
• Doing more of my 'to do' list, that includes paperwork, meetings, writing social media posts.
• All those events that you believe you 'should' be doing or attending.
• Wanting to be at 100% when actually at about 60% capacity!   

I was feeling pressure to progress with planned activity, and wanted to get back into meeting up with friends, clients and business contacts. I arranged meet ups with a couple of friends and I got to see clients and attended a few events, two of which were all-day events. I also started to get back on to social media and was enjoying achieving some of my plans.

However, I felt my head spinning by week 2 after that 'return to work'. I happened to be at a networking event which was quite 'full on' with lots of people being introduced and moved around. At the time I couldn't work out why I felt lightheaded and my temples and under-eye area pounding. I did stop momentarily to take a breath and the organiser saw this, asking me if I was OK. My answer was a question, I asked 'is it hot in here?' and 'I have a bit of a headache.' To be fair, the venue wasn't hot, I was (in an infected sense!).

Going home after that, I snuggled under a blanket and stayed there for an hour or more. That was perhaps a sensible thing to do. It was then I realised I had a temperature and my 'cotton wool' head feeling of confusion and discomfort turned out to be sinusitis (I know the signs as I had it as a child). The whole time I'd kept going, because being self-employed, income only comes in when I am seeing clients. I did cancel a couple of client meetings after that, before I'd got some idea of how to treat the infection, and just in case it was a 'fresh cold' that I might pass on.  

During the worst of my illnesses, I still put effort into eating freshly cooked homemade meals, even though I didn't really feel up to making them. I lost weight over this time period too, even though I continued to eat and retained a love of chocolate and Easter. (In moderation: I still have one favourite bar of chocolate left in April). I also did a couple of cheat meals, where I bought a ready meal from the supermarket. It tasted very good and was not really that unhealthy (I regularly check food labels for content).

I also spoke with our herbalist, Tim, at the Norfolk Clinic for a few pointers on dealing with sinusitis. If you are prone to colds and coughs (and sinusitis),Tim has a lot of great advice to reduce symptoms.
I've written before on this blog about returning to work too soon after an illness. It is very easy to think you are clear of a cold, when actually you may have a secondary infection. I had felt 'on the mend', so perhaps this was a separate infection. I don't know. I'm just glad to be feeling a bit more 'me' again. It's quite a relief (and I'm sure my Norfolk Clinic colleagues will be glad to have a more organised Angie back in the room too!) I hope that anyone else who had a cold or illness this season is feeling much better too.

Angie x

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About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich, NR3 4AG. 

Call Angie directly on 07773 610816 or email info@angiegiles.co.uk 
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How do you cope with unexpected change?

The ups and downs of life and work can be just like a rollercoaster at times. There might be a feeling of safety and peace as you glide upwards and the views at the top seem breathtaking, only the direction suddenly changes, so you go hurtling downwards with the inevitable twists and turns that happen along the way. It can be exciting for a short time and some people thrive on the adrenaline-filled rush of rollercoasters. If there are several events or situations that happen it can feel a whole lot different, too much stress over a prolonged period. How you cope is often dependent on your upbringing and also on how many of those other stressors there are in your life at the time.

Some people get to the point of not quite knowing how to cope with the upheaval and stress that change brings. If there is one thing that changes in life and work have taught me, it is there is no one solution to each and every person's circumstances when it comes to change. What I do know is that from my work with clients, change can be unsettling. Too much change leaves some with a feeling of having the ground taken from beneath them. I say there are no rights or wrongs to how you deal with change. I do suggest feeling what you feel and allowing time to 'grieve' the loss that often goes with a major life or work change.

One thing that can happen when someone is under pressure is to turn to unhealthy coping strategies. This could be to drink, over-eat, under-eat or take recreational drugs. Forgetting about problems for a while is the aim, but there are consequences on your body and health as well as on your relationships. Find other ways to let your frustration or hurt out. You could go for a walk, run, cycle, read, talk to a trusted friend. You could write down your thoughts and feelings (just for your eyes) so that they stop spinning around your head. Get to bed early and eat healthily and regularly.

If you can, do your best to let people know what you want at a particular time. It is your responsibility to say what you need rather than expect people to read your mind. If you want time on your own, that's OK. Explain your need for a bit of quiet and reflection so you can come to terms with the changes you are facing. If you need to surround yourself with people to help you through it, that's OK too. Try to be explicit about your needs with those who care about you. Other people may not know quite what to say or do to support you if you are going through a major life upheaval. Their need may be to give you a hug when it is the last thing you need right now. Allow them the chance to support you in a way that you will appreciate by telling them as clearly as you can. They do care and you can help them to help you.

Change is inevitable with home, life and work not staying still. Things move on. You can choose to see a change as an opportunity. Once the initial shock and disbelief have worn off, things will begin to fall into place: acceptance. The change could direct you in a new, positive direction. You could start to feel excited about the next twists and turns and highs of the rollercoaster of life and work, still to come.

About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich. Norfolk Clinic reception on 01603 660792 or directly on 07773 610816. She loves helping other people achieve their potential at work and in life and achieving happiness using a range of therapeutic techniques.
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