Dealing with chronic stress

Noah Harris50 said:Fine, I’ve got a killer "cure" for chronic fatigue. If you want, try it for two months and see if it actually does anything.

A few years back, doctors told me I was allergic to gluten—basically, too much Wheat. Right around then, they slapped a chronic fatigue diagnosis on me, too. I had to figure out how to live gluten-free, and since I had zero clue what I was doing and it happened right around my birthday, my friends gifted me this book about living without gluten and sugar. It was packed with solid advice and recipes that skipped both. Once I started following those recipes religiously, here’s what went down:

1. I found a ton of great new meals and ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

2. I cut ALL sugar and all Wheat out of my diet.

3. I had more energy than I ever thought possible.

4. My belly fat vanished and I looked awesome.

But then life decided to throw some curveballs, bringing along a bit of depression, stress, and anxiety... So, I slid right back into my old habits. Reintroduced the Wheat, started eating stuff with sugar, quit yoga, stopped running. Now I'm right back where I started—in the gutter.

I'm going back at it. I'll check in in two months to let you know how it's going. You in? 🙂

So, what exactly are you planning to do over the next two months? And is it actually true that grains make you gain weight? I can't believe it; that's the first time I've ever heard that.😁

Noah Harris50
Maybe I missed it, but if you don't mind me asking—do you actually work? Like, do you have a job? And if you do... is it a total grind?

placidtinker80 said:So, what exactly are you planning to do over the next two months? And is it actually true that grains make you gain weight? I can't believe it; that's the first time I've ever heard that.😁

Wheat and sugar are empty carbs. Yeah, they make you fat.

granitemarlin77 said:Noah Harris50
Maybe I missed it, but if you don't mind me asking—do you actually work? Like, do you have a job? And if you do... is it a total grind?

So, what actually brought you to this thread?

Noah Harris50 said:So, what actually brought you to this thread?

Interesting topic.🙂
Maybe I missed it—are you working right now, and is your job a total grind?

Noah Harris50 said:Wheat and sugar are empty carbs. Yeah, they make you fat.

So what exactly are you planning to do for the next two months like you mentioned earlier in this thread? What are you even sticking to...

placidtinker80 said:So what exactly are you planning to do for the next two months like you mentioned earlier in this thread? What are you even sticking to...

Cutting out all Wheat and sugar. I still cheat occasionally. Not much on the sugar front, but the Wheat? Yeah. Already mentioned that above.

granitemarlin77 said:Interesting topic.🙂
Maybe I missed it—are you working right now, and is your job a total grind?

I work as a freelance photographer and a researcher for travel books and articles. Not exactly a high-stress gig.

Why is this even worth talking about?

Noah Harris50 said:I work as a freelance photographer and a researcher for travel books and articles. Not exactly a high-stress gig.

Why is this even worth talking about?

That sounds like a dream job... at least to me. But regarding this whole elimination thing, I honestly didn't realize that's what you'll be doing for the next two months. I don't see how cutting out Wheat and sugar is supposed to help with stress...

Noah Harris50 said:I work as a freelance photographer and a researcher for travel books and articles. Not exactly a high-stress gig.

Why is this even worth talking about?

Because it’s interesting—you don't always need some deep, profound reason for that.
Look, I know people who work—especially nowadays—are stressed out. But honestly? I think the ones without steady jobs are under way more pressure. When you actually have a job and responsibilities, even if it's a grind, it acts like a buffer against those frustrations turning into chronic stress. For me, "work therapy" is the best kind of therapy. Once you're busy, you don't have the luxury of sitting around spiraling about everything you'd be obsessing over if you were unemployed.

Your job sounds creative and fulfilling. But—and I say this looking at your symptoms—maybe you should consider seeing a pro (if you haven't already). It’s totally normal to seek help these days, unfortunately, and there’s zero shame in talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist—especially if things are sliding toward chronic depression. From what you described, it really sounds like you're dealing with depression. Plus, things like heavy bleeding between cycles can be a massive red flag that something is off biologically, let alone when you throw anxiety, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, rapid breathing, panic attacks, or asthma into the mix... you know your own body better than anyone. My advice? Don't try to be your own doctor. Get professional help before things get out of hand. Too many people try to fix themselves with "alternative" methods only to end up in a specialist's office much later—and for some, by then, it's already too late.

Obviously, that’s just my two cents. Just a sincere suggestion/idea—feel free to ignore it entirely if you want.

granitemarlin77 said:Because it’s interesting—you don't always need some deep, profound reason for that.
Look, I know people who work—especially nowadays—are stressed out. But honestly? I think the ones without steady jobs are under way more pressure. When you actually have a job and responsibilities, even if it's a grind, it acts like a buffer against those frustrations turning into chronic stress. For me, "work therapy" is the best kind of therapy. Once you're busy, you don't have the luxury of sitting around spiraling about everything you'd be obsessing over if you were unemployed.

Your job sounds creative and fulfilling. But—and I say this looking at your symptoms—maybe you should consider seeing a pro (if you haven't already). It’s totally normal to seek help these days, unfortunately, and there’s zero shame in talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist—especially if things are sliding toward chronic depression. From what you described, it really sounds like you're dealing with depression. Plus, things like heavy bleeding between cycles can be a massive red flag that something is off biologically, let alone when you throw anxiety, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, rapid breathing, panic attacks, or asthma into the mix... you know your own body better than anyone. My advice? Don't try to be your own doctor. Get professional help before things get out of hand. Too many people try to fix themselves with "alternative" methods only to end up in a specialist's office much later—and for some, by then, it's already too late.

Obviously, that’s just my two cents. Just a sincere suggestion/idea—feel free to ignore it entirely if you want.

You hit the nail on the head with most of that. But, I’m not depressed. I’m actually in a great mood and doing plenty of things I love. Like I said, it's chronic stress that brought along some anxiety and panic attacks.

Admitting I can't fix this alone and might need professional help is something I just had to face. I’m a total control freak and a perfectionist—I always thought I could handle everything myself without anyone's help. But an hour with a psychologist or a stress coach around here costs $367, and you usually have to buy a block of 12 sessions (which feels like the bare minimum). That adds up to less than $5.00, and I'm not dropping that kind of cash unless I'm certain the person can actually help me a LOT. I know nothing worth having comes without risk, but I'm not about to gamble one risk after another $5.00. So, I'll start with the basics: vitamins, yoga, running, cutting out Wheat and sugar (which is already minimal), staying positive, and maybe finding a new hobby. Everything I used to do lost its spark a long time ago.

Grace Lewis6 said:I really think changing up your diet helped you a lot back then... I've been following this plan for a few weeks now, though I definitely slip up every couple of days 🙄

I have Hashimoto's, so I'm dealing with hypothyroidism and need to lose quite a bit of weight, especially since I've put on some pounds over the last two years because I couldn't even get allowed to exercise 😳

But we can do this! You start with your dietary changes, and I'll stick with mine (they're actually pretty similar), so let's just see where we end up 😉

See, it’s pretty much the same thing. But the way it's described sounds more like a diet than an actual lifestyle. And honestly, anything labeled a "diet" gives me the creeps. They're usually just about dropping weight. Like, it's insane to cut out root vegetables. That stuff is super healthy.

Processed sugar and all that industrial junk is trash, though. I'm all about real food.

Noah Harris50 said:Fine, I’ve got a killer "cure" for chronic fatigue. If you want, try it for two months and see if it actually does anything.

A few years back, doctors told me I was allergic to gluten—basically, too much Wheat. Right around then, they slapped a chronic fatigue diagnosis on me, too. I had to figure out how to live gluten-free, and since I had zero clue what I was doing and it happened right around my birthday, my friends gifted me this book about living without gluten and sugar. It was packed with solid advice and recipes that skipped both. Once I started following those recipes religiously, here’s what went down:

1. I found a ton of great new meals and ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

2. I cut ALL sugar and all Wheat out of my diet.

3. I had more energy than I ever thought possible.

4. My belly fat vanished and I looked awesome.

But then life decided to throw some curveballs, bringing along a bit of depression, stress, and anxiety... So, I slid right back into my old habits. Reintroduced the Wheat, started eating stuff with sugar, quit yoga, stopped running. Now I'm right back where I started—in the gutter.

I'm going back at it. I'll check in in two months to let you know how it's going. You in? 🙂

Noah, what's the title of that book??

I'm asking because, like I mentioned before, I've got two doctors telling me I'm basically "suffering" from chronic fatigue, so it might be worth a shot... even though it totally wrecks my new plan to start baking again. (And look, I'm not really a cook, but back when I was a teenager like 15 years ago, I used to bake all the time. I recently got hit with that itch again, bought two sets of measuring cups, and after baking a few things, I realized it actually helps me stay focused and keeps me busy—kind of like how some people get hooked on tennis or squash 😁 )

That book wouldn't do you any good since it's all in Danish. I can hook you up with some sugar-free dessert recipes though 🙂
Plus, I've got other recipes too, not just sweets. There's plenty of actual good food out there that isn't cake, haha

Noah Harris50 said:You hit the nail on the head with most of that. But, I’m not depressed. I’m actually in a great mood and doing plenty of things I love. Like I said, it's chronic stress that brought along some anxiety and panic attacks.

Admitting I can't fix this alone and might need professional help is something I just had to face. I’m a total control freak and a perfectionist—I always thought I could handle everything myself without anyone's help. But an hour with a psychologist or a stress coach around here costs $367, and you usually have to buy a block of 12 sessions (which feels like the bare minimum). That adds up to less than $5.00, and I'm not dropping that kind of cash unless I'm certain the person can actually help me a LOT. I know nothing worth having comes without risk, but I'm not about to gamble one risk after another $5.00. So, I'll start with the basics: vitamins, yoga, running, cutting out Wheat and sugar (which is already minimal), staying positive, and maybe finding a new hobby. Everything I used to do lost its spark a long time ago.

Noah Harris50 said:Yeah, that's the classic line they drop when they run out of things to say or don't want to admit they lost the argument. I'm not buying the homeopathy thing either. I've swallowed enough of those little sugar pills to know they don't do squat. Nothing ever works.

I reckon regular yoga—like, five times a week—and staying active actually helps. But honestly, I'm so burnt out right now I can't even find the energy to start, so I just keep telling myself I'll get on it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

For now, I'm sticking to vitamins. My doctor mentioned that chronic stress wipes out your B-vitamins and Magnesium, so I started this daily cocktail:

Morning:

double the recommended dose of B-complex
600 mg Magnesium + calcium
4 EyeQ capsules
35 mcg D3
2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil
1 multivitamin

Uvece:

500 mg Vitamin C
100 mg Iron

Here's my symptom list:

exhaustion
insomnia/trouble falling asleep/waking up constantly
fainting spells/dizziness
irritability
intense restlessness/anxiety (hitting me in waves out of nowhere)
brain fog/trouble concentrating
bad memory
heart palpitations
neck tension + headaches
twitching all over (chest, heart, head)
constant worry
inability to relax
short temper
indecisiveness
feeling totally checked out/apathetic

You say you'll try yoga and all that, but then you mention feeling totally unmotivated—I'm worried you're trying to play doctor with yourself.🤷
I don't know, whatever you want to do, but to me, this feels more like depression than just stress. And yeah, I get it—it's expensive, and there's nothing worse than a doctor playing chemist and swapping your meds every five minutes. Finding a decent specialist is tough, though a friend's referral can help.
Do what you want, but if you see it isn't working, seriously, go get help. Once this spirals into chronic, deep-seated depression, the road back to "normal" is way longer and harder—just like any other illness.
And if you're a coffee drinker? Given everything you listed, you absolutely have to swap to decaf. Trust me, I've been there.

granitemarlin77 said:You say you'll try yoga and all that, but then you mention feeling totally unmotivated—I'm worried you're trying to play doctor with yourself.🤷
I don't know, whatever you want to do, but to me, this feels more like depression than just stress. And yeah, I get it—it's expensive, and there's nothing worse than a doctor playing chemist and swapping your meds every five minutes. Finding a decent specialist is tough, though a friend's referral can help.
Do what you want, but if you see it isn't working, seriously, go get help. Once this spirals into chronic, deep-seated depression, the road back to "normal" is way longer and harder—just like any other illness.
And if you're a coffee drinker? Given everything you listed, you absolutely have to swap to decaf. Trust me, I've been there.

It’s not that I don't care; I just lack interest when it comes to physical stuff or those massive life pivots. I get hyper-focused on the tiny daily details instead. I just can't seem to find the drive or the discipline to tackle the big decisions. Plus, with my anxiety acting up lately, the idea of hitting a yoga class or starting a workout routine actually stresses me out—I just end up feeling totally overwhelmed.

I’m pretty upbeat and staying busy every single day. I've been back to the doctor a few times now, and after all the talks and tests, they told me there isn't even a trace of depression in there.

P.S. Your inbox is slammed.

Noah Harris50 said:It’s not that I don't care; I just lack interest when it comes to physical stuff or those massive life pivots. I get hyper-focused on the tiny daily details instead. I just can't seem to find the drive or the discipline to tackle the big decisions. Plus, with my anxiety acting up lately, the idea of hitting a yoga class or starting a workout routine actually stresses me out—I just end up feeling totally overwhelmed.

I’m pretty upbeat and staying busy every single day. I've been back to the doctor a few times now, and after all the talks and tests, they told me there isn't even a trace of depression in there.

P.S. Your inbox is slammed.

Look, whatever the case, I really hope you start feeling better ASAP. If those panic attacks always hit when you're cooped up indoors, just get out there—go for a walk, run, ride a bike, whatever. Maybe try swimming or something else that'll actually force your brain to focus on something positive.
Cleared it out.

I'm 30 years old, and for the last six or seven years, I've been living under constant, intense stress. Most of it stems from my job, though there’s plenty going on at home that makes me want to pull my hair out, too. Over time, this stress has just worn me down, both mentally and physically. I feel this sense of chronic fatigue all the time, and about three years ago, everything finally pushed me to the edge of a total mental and physical breakdown. Honestly, I don't even know how I made it through that period. For weeks at a time, I was just shaking from the sheer exhaustion, and for two years after that, I’ve been trying to pull myself back together—all while maintaining an equally grueling pace at work and at home.

In the meantime, I started psychotherapy. I haven't gone the medication route, and I actually feel much better today, even if my energy levels still aren't quite where they should be. While therapy has helped me organize my thoughts and get my life a bit more in order, it unfortunately hasn't been able to change the actual volume of my daily responsibilities or the level of stress I face, especially at the office.

So, mentally, I'm doing better, but physically, I still feel completely drained. It's frustrating because all my medical tests come back almost perfect. What really worries me, though, is the long-term damage I might have done to my body during these years. I find myself wondering if all these breakdowns and the prolonged stress could potentially lead to something serious, like cancer.

I don't smoke, I don't drink, I stay active, and I try to eat well—everything seems fine on paper—but I can't shake the feeling that this lifestyle and the constant rush are going to be the end of me.

I have excellent genetics from both sides of my family. My parents are both alive and honestly healthier than I am, even though they're well into their 70s. My grandparents lived into their 80s (all passing from natural causes), and my aunts and uncles on both sides seem to have enviable vitality and health. Still, I worry that my current way of living is essentially canceling out all those genetic advantages I was born with.

Is it possible to become physically ill from stress and develop a major disease? And if so, what should I even be doing right now?

So, what's the take on this?
Sure, stress is definitely a major trigger for a lot of modern ailments 🤷

Take autoimmune diseases, for instance—stress can be a huge factor, either acting as the initial trigger or just making everything much worse.

Why not just get a thorough, high-quality checkup through a private clinic... that’s usually the best way to start?

And if you're planning on Googling "stress-related illnesses" or something like that, you aren't going to find the real answers there...😬

I’ve already gone through quite a few medical appointments and tests, but despite feeling absolutely terrible, the doctors haven't been able to pinpoint anything specific. I suppose I’m just worried that, eventually, my body might start calling me to account for all the strain I've put it through lately. 😢