“I hope you’re taking care of yourself.” These words have been thrown at me time and time again, through various means of communication and interactions. People say it with good intentions, a mix of sympathy, pity, and relief that they aren’t in my shoes.
But those words are spoken so casually and frequently, as if they were discussing mundane tasks rather than the arduous process of rebuilding one’s life after experiencing the most stressful events of adulthood. According to The Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, I have faced a multitude of these experiences, some of them repeatedly.
In a single year, I lost my job, received the devastating news of my three-year-old son’s rare and difficult-to-control epilepsy, and tested positive for COVID-19 on my birthday. These experiences, along with chronic stressors like systemic racism, misogyny, gun violence, natural disasters, political turmoil, and the lingering effects of a global pandemic, contribute significantly to overall stress levels.
But despite being repeatedly knocked down by life’s challenges, I continue to make plans and push forward. I started my own business and even scheduled elective plastic surgery I had been considering for a long time. I was eager to see the transformation and reclaim my body after years of feeling disconnected from it.
However, as fate would have it, my surgery took an unexpected turn. I found myself in the cardiac intensive care unit, waking up with a breathing tube down my throat and various lines protruding from my body. The medical team diagnosed me with stress cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle is weakened due to intense emotional or physical stress. The role of stress in my case remains a mystery, as my life was filled with stressors but I actively sought help and employed stress management techniques.
Now, as I recover and reflect on my experience, I can’t help but wonder how anyone can truly take care of themselves in today’s world. If someone like me, with privilege, resources, and support, can succumb to stress-induced heart failure, what chance does the average person have?
The reality is that stress is pervasive in our society. The American Psychological Association reports that 27% of Americans are so stressed that they can’t function properly. This collective burden affects not only individuals but also workplaces and society as a whole.
So, where do we go from here? It’s a question I grapple with, knowing that I am not alone in this struggle. The path forward is unclear, but it begins with acknowledging the impact of stress on our lives and society. We must prioritize self-care and mental well-being, even if it feels like an insurmountable task. And we must work together to create a world where stress is not a constant companion, but rather a manageable challenge.
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