How long does it take for you to get a broken foot looked at by the doctor? Do you wait until you can’t walk? When the bone is sticking out? Or do you immediately go and seek help? In a physical injury most people would agree that they seek help almost immediately. People treat their bodies in a delicate way. However, most people don’t provide the same delicacy for their brains as they do for their bodies.
At the beginning of the school year, I sprained my foot. I was simply cleaning my room and fell off of a table. I couldn’t apply any pressure and walked on one foot for the rest of the day. The next morning I still could not walk. I went to urgent care where I got an examination and x-rays. They informed me that my foot was sprained and to stay off of it for at least a week. I would like to say I used my crutches properly, but I did not. I found that I would only use them in school but when it came to my outside activities I would act as if the injury wasn’t serious. I would walk everywhere and try to continue my life at my normal pace. I dismissed my injury because I didn’t want to fall behind. Much like a physical injury, I treat my mind the same way. I dismiss my feelings of being overworked and stressed because I simply do not want to fall behind.
Growing up in Ann Arbor, a college town, we are always surrounded by overachievers. The pattern of dismissal is becoming more and more common but still unrecognizable. As a society we, including you and I, dismiss the unfortunate feelings. We do this to maintain the expectation of being okay and to push through the difficulty because it will “all be over soon.” As easy as it sounds, it is incredibly difficult to accept the feelings of stress. Once you have accepted how you are feeling it is challenging to take a needed break.This break might feel like a burden because of how comfortable you are in an overworked mindset. As a society we fail to recognize signs of being overworked because of how normal it feels. This expectation has become normalized in ways it shouldn’t be. No one would choose to walk on a broken foot, so why do people choose to walk on a broken mind?
How to recognize signs of stress?
- Physical signs- headaches, muscle tension, insomnia, digestive problems, shaking, or lowered immunity.
- Lack of motivation- this is not a sign of being lazy, it is a sign you are shutting down and need a break
- Personality signs- easily irritated, anxious, sad. Your mind compensates for the stress with these negative feelings.
During finals season it’s incredibly difficult to be in touch with your mind and body. Remember to be aware and accepting of your feelings during this time, there are plenty of resources to help you.
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