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I wonder how many of you are suffering from stress induced illnesses, whilst dealing with all of this. I have thrown up every morning for a week and have had to visit my GP.I already have high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia that i take medication for. However, my blood pressure is sky high now,i have a constant headache which is what is making me throw up. Anxiety +++ Shaking +++ Sweating +++ The GP is extremely concerned about my blood pressure and has referred me to my local hospital for further management, and will be doing further tests soon.
I'm 34 years old, go the gym everyday and eat healthily.

Stress should never be underestimated, i resent feeling like this, so i have decided from now on, that yes, it is stressful, and i'm scared, but i will let not my situation get the best of me, i will not waste my hard earned healthy breakfast every morning by throwing up.I will walk with my head high and a smile on my face, and not fear anyone.I will be polite and honest on the phone to my creditors at all times,keeping things short and to the point.They cannot have what i have not got.By telling myself that i am in charge and have been honest and open, i have not lost face and am responsible for my debts , and have had an awesome time spending it all !!!!

Best way to be Quark. Being stressed will do you no good and wont change anything.
I think a lot of us suffer with stress over this, I certainly did, and am now trying to come off prozac.
I do hope you feel better soon.

Ang x

Well good luck with coming off the Prozac Ang, can be a difficult thing to do. I find going to the gym and spinning classes work out the stress, spinning is great fun, a load of you on bikes peddling like mad to banging hard house music, though i have to careful in case i have a stroke !!!!

Hi Quark,
Well done for all the right things you are doing - exercise (which release feeling good hormones like endorphines), eating healthily and having a positive mental attitude. We all get terribly stressed going through the process to sort out debt problems - I know I did and the stress led to depression for which I now recieve medication.
The headaches are being caused by your high blood pressure. I'm sure you now all the things you should do - low salt, keeping your fliud balance right - don't get dehydrated at the Gym and don't drink too much caffene or other drinks with a high caffene content, avoiding processed foods with hig fat content, etc
Your GP may be able to help with anxiety coping and relaxation techniques which the practice nurse may do. (Or maybe try Yoga?) I'm lucky that my friend has just completed a hypnotherapy Diploma and she is doing sessions on me to promote self confidence, help me relax and reduce the panic/anxiety feelings. I don't know if such sessions are available on the NHS but it may be worth asking as they are really helping.
I hope this helps and you should be very proud of yourself for being so pro-active and positive - well done again.
Good luck with the Prozac Aguise.
Best wishes,
Chardonnay

It's weird but the effects of stress on my body have been known to show a few weeks after the event,i have hairloss,eczema,and at the moment i have really bad psoriosis(think that's spelt right!)in my hair that makes me want to scratch my hair out.Have the usual creams etc but stress is the trigger xxx

Stress is also my worst nightmare - I am told not to get stressed, my crohns consultant says - you must decrease your stress levels. I was quite poorly for ages and have just had another attack recently. Its all very well saying get that stress down but life in general is just full of it. I am doing all I can and think I have cracked it then something else happens to zoom the stress level straight back up. I have accupuncture for stress and it really works. Trouble is my accupuncturist has gone off to do something else and I haven't been able to find one as good or trustworthy yet. I do think being on this forum and taking steps to sort out finances have gone a long way to help my stress levels - just need to sort out children and hubby's problems now plus get a less stressful job - exhausted thinking about it - going to bed now.

quark2008 - you are an example to us all. I hope that things start to look up for you soon, there is nothing worse than your body letting you down when you need to feel strong. Please look after yourself and be kind to yourself.

I find that while consciously I'm telling myself that I'm coping well and that I will not let things stress me out or get me down, subconsciously my body betrays me! I suffer from Urticarial Vasculitis (which they believe is stress related) and randomly flares up with no warning. It wouldn't be so bad if it didn't look like someone had taken a baseball bat to me!

My stress got the better of me and I am really suffering for it now, like you, I threw up a lot. I dont really worry about day to day things, like family stress as I cant change it, I can only deal with the day the best I can but this debt stress..... it was a kind of hell and I didnt want to live.. I am Ok now, well ish but I wouldnt want to go down this road again, ever.

some GP's i know have done a survey on their clients and have come up with figures ranging from 15 - 22% of patients suffer with stress or illness relating to financial problems ( including loosing jobs etc). It is extremely common.

We are trialing a debt help clinic in one of the surgeries to see if we can help the practice ( no point keep dispensing pills if the problem isn't solved) but also it gives the folks we see a real sense of getting back control.

we are only quite new at this trial but I am surprised that the CAB / CCCS / etc etc etc don't have a weekly clinic in surgeries because it would really help.

Paul.What an innivotive (sp)idea.Fantastic.I work in mental health.There are areas to support client debts,but somehow we (the professionals) are made to think debt is something 'they' (our clients) do...just like we also seem to believe we are exempt from anxiety. depression and all the other common mental illnesses.I'm not even attempting to come off my prozac.I like the normality it gives me too much.Why struggle with low mood and related anxiety every day?Let us know how the venture is going please.Cat

Oh guys, i'm no example, i'm a nurse myself in A&E, isn't that strange.
It doesn't matter who you are, and how much clinical and practicial knowledge you have.When it's time to fall through the floor and be consumed with anxiety, common sense and control is left by the wayside.

I can understand why people turn to drugs and drink fully now.One must allow oneself to fall and wallow for a bit, then you need to pull yourself toward yourself before one ****s oneself.

Trying to hold on to my brekkie right now, i went for a long session in the gym last night followed by a swim, my god did i sleep deep !!!!


Capital One have sent me a letter, offering me an alternative to IVA, what a credit limit of 42k? I think not, they also mention they will assist fully with my IP. How b***** odd ?

Over the years I have come to appreciate why some people feel there is no way out of a situation and they then end up doing silly things. There is a very fine line that when feeling unwell could easily be crossed.
People are judged (in my opinion) too harshly in these circumstances. In alot of cases they are seen as selfish and uncaring - They are neither, they are unwell. This againis purely my opinion.
I hope and pray that people get the help and support they need in life as there is not as big a stigma in regard of mental health/illness anymore.
Hope everyone stays as healthy as they can and try not to let the debt situation get the better of them.

Good luck all

XX[:I]

I really have had enough. I have a very stressful demanding jog, a husband who is not well and has a disabilitating condition called CRPD (anyone wants explanation ask - its a long story), I have become main earner, carer and counsellor, an hormonal 12 year old, and a 20 year old who has depression and has tried to kill herself. I say all this because in the grand scheme of things finances pale into insignifance (my best friend died last year at the age of 37 having illness exaserbated by the stress of being in debt). Just when I think I am coping, done the right thing by admiting I can't cope financially, have sort advice and am being supported by Melanies team to progress and IVA, I came home this evening to a letter from A & L appointing a solicitor and threatening a charging order - what on earth am I trying to sort things out for - I may as well just give up!!! the only thing that is keeping me going over the next few day is that my very good friend has paid for me to go away so when I get back on Tuesday I may find everyone evicted!!!! and in a homeless hostel with the animals at the rspca.

I got a horrible letter too and I am also with Melanie. Send it straight to Melanie and forget it until Melanie tells you it is a problem. I'm sure she won't she i more than good, she will sort it for you.

XX

I hope you are okay, you have been doing so well. You can do it just try and keep a float a few weeks longer. XX