Adrenaline hangover / bad memories
I have exactly one appointment today; the rest of it is reserved for research and writing. I feel really lousy. Sad, achy, hazy, a kind of jumpy lethargy. No worries, I’m not sick or even struggling emotionally. I’m just experiencing something that I had forgotten about and I find that I don’t like remembering it.
I used to call this feeling adrenaline hangover — the physical / emotional aftermath of being on very much on edge about high stakes events for days and days in a row. I used to be in that state for weeks at a time, in my last job, but now I’m out of practice. It was only two days this time.
It was unsurprising: election day, which is a big deal in my life, then my high stakes Wednesday, with stress enhanced because I wasn’t as centered as I like to be because of election day, and then all the unpredictabilities of the day. Actually adrenaline doesn’t help one deal with them — but it feels like a shield I wear.
I finished last night about 10 p.m. and went and had a beer with a colleague and then went home and fell into bed. And today I feel lousy.
I had just forgotten about this. And how much I hate it. It’s not like the grinding emotionality of the summer because that wasn’t coupled with adrenaline. It’s the adrenaline (and feeling it gone) that makes it so unpleasant.
Anyway, this was a good reminder of why I need to avoid that adrenaline overload situation. I’ve been doing pretty well this year. Just need to note today as a reason why I don’t want to be doing that anymore.
Here’s another pretty picture of Thorin and the boys in Times Square on Election Day sent by a blog reader. Bigger this time.
Remember the euphoria!
What helps with the hangover? Time to indulge in it today?
LikeLike
Obscura said this on November 8, 2012 at 6:09 pm |
I think regular people take a bath when they feel like this but exposure to water jacks up my adrenaline. If it doesn’t wane soon I will just get back into bed.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 8, 2012 at 6:18 pm |
Hope you feel better! I can actually see blue sky today — I’m hoping it helps with my blah’s.
LikeLike
Obscura said this on November 8, 2012 at 7:03 pm |
There’s a song to sing to yourself for when skies are grey: Jessica Lee Mayfield’s “Blue Skies.” I’ve had it on infinite repeat in my office several times this term.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:31 am |
The biochemical fallout of prolongrd epinephrine secretion and processing is brutal. It’s no surpise you’re feeling it. Epinephrine is important in “fight or flight” situations, but then you need to encourage your parasympathetic nervous system to take you down from “red alert” and to get rid of the byproducts. Richarding-induced euphoria should be very helpful, especially accompanied by plenty of fluids and followed by a warm bath
Hope you feel better soon!
LikeLike
Leigh said this on November 8, 2012 at 6:21 pm |
sadly, I can’t put myself in water. I don’t know why I say sadly. I’m frighteningly water phobic. But just sitting still and staring at the wall used to work really well. It’s just been so long … for which I suppose I should rejoice.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 8, 2012 at 6:23 pm |
I know someone with similar issues. What is important is not so much the immersion as the warmth. You need to warm the muscles and drink fluids to get the ACTH and the extra acid out of your system.
LikeLike
Leigh said this on November 8, 2012 at 7:46 pm |
Thanks — it sounds like this is a form of shock, then? I just went back to bed and it abated hours later.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:31 am |
Got it in one. Glad it abated.
LikeLike
Leigh said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:59 am |
Is it only sight that helps, or also sound? Because if the sound of Richard singing will help, check out the new snippet of the Misty Mountains song in this preview of the movie music:
http://www.qobuz.com/album/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-special-edition-howard-shore/0794043163920
LikeLike
saraleee said this on November 8, 2012 at 6:50 pm |
Hmmm. It may have been disabled now.
LikeLike
saraleee said this on November 9, 2012 at 2:06 pm |
Thanks, Saraleee, this was sweet of you.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:32 am |
sounds like adrenal fatigue syndrome. it is a real condition.
LikeLike
@Rob said this on November 9, 2012 at 2:25 am |
Yeah, I definitely had physical symptoms (I’m pretty good at differentiating mood that comes from body vs mood that comes from events — except when my period is involved, for some reason). But I was also really frustrated that I was in this situation again.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:33 am |
I hope you feel better today!!!
LikeLike
Herba said this on November 9, 2012 at 8:06 am |
Thanks for the good wishes. Today was much better.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:33 am |
I am glad to hear that! What have you done to overcome the ‘hangover’?
LikeLike
Herba said this on November 10, 2012 at 8:50 am |
went to bed and dozed, mostly.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 11, 2012 at 12:37 am |
I hope that you feel better now. I wish you a nice week-end. 🙂
LikeLike
april73 said this on November 9, 2012 at 1:33 pm |
Thanks — hope you have a great weekend, too.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:33 am |
I had, thanks. 🙂
LikeLike
april73 said this on November 13, 2012 at 12:48 pm |
I would say that you should eat a large portion of my Mom’s chocolate cake.
Are you feel better today?
LikeLike
Joanna said this on November 9, 2012 at 2:49 pm |
You’ll have to excuse me, but I can’t seem to post a comment without piggy backing onto someone else’s comment. Anyway wanted to say I’m suffering stress fatigue for some of the same reasons and listening to Misty Mountains works wonders. Now I wish RA would do an album.
LikeLike
sloan said this on November 9, 2012 at 5:23 pm |
Yes, it really is fantastic. I’m sorry you’re suffering too and hope that things were better today.
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:34 am |
yes, much, thank you. Does your mom post her cake?
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 10, 2012 at 1:33 am |
I’m not sure 🙂 “Are you hungry darling?”- this would be the very first question to you.
LikeLike
Joanna said this on November 10, 2012 at 2:15 am |
that’s the kind of mom to have 🙂
LikeLike
Servetus said this on November 11, 2012 at 12:38 am |
[…] the entire project of who I am capable of being for other people. These conflicts have generated visceral physical reactions that have made me realize that in the process of writing here I’ve changed myself enough not […]
LikeLike
My Richard Armitage: An interpretation. Preface « Me + Richard Armitage said this on November 17, 2012 at 5:53 am |