Early Warning Signs & Coping Mechanisms
A simple little checklist for you to get an idea if you might be heading for a crash
How many are familiar to you?
Early Warning Signs
Headaches increasing in number and severity
Migraine with vomiting or visual disturbance
Vertigo
Feeling stressed with a 'normal' workload
Panic attacks
Feeling overwhelmed
Anxiety, busy racing mind
Irritable Bowel (or Bladder) Syndrome
Pins and Needles in the face
Dizzy feeling in the head
Palpitations
Sleep problems
Waking exhausted
Sudden bouts of total exhaustion, often before you are due to do something you don't truly enjoy
Fuzzy head, poor concentration, brain fog
Short term memory problems/ poor memory recall
Jangly or judderey feeling inside your body
Struggle to cope with noise
Light sensitivity
Low mood
Tearful
Reaction to caffeine
Poor tolerance to alcohol
Unexplained pains in muscles and joints
Coping Mechanisms
Caffeine
Energy drinks
Lucozade
Alcohol
Anti-depressants
Sleeping tablets (from your GP or over the counter)
Comfort eating
Sugary snacks "to keep you going"
Starting a gym routine to build your stamina and combat exhaustion but unable to actually keep it going
Withdrawing from social events and activities
Screening phone calls
Dishonestly about how you feel when asked
Putting on an act or a brave face
Blame of circumstances and hope that something will just change so you feel OK again
Taking time off work just to stay in bed and rest
Going to bed really early every night just to be able to get up in time for work the next morning
Expect and hope energy levels will somehow just get better on their own
Perhaps seeing therapists and practitioners to help you feel better, hopping from one to the next as none get you well enough
Feeling more and more as though life isn't working like it should for you anymore.
Perhaps its time to consider a supported approach with me.