Stress, work and exercise

Halla
Halla Member Posts: 185
edited May 2021 in Health and wellbeing
Hello ladies and gents , do you think stress had a part to play in your diagnosis?

I was/am a bit of a workaholic - in my own business. Now I’m not sure how much to push myself. I want to prioritise exercise for my health and well-being , which is hard time -wise.  I feel guilty taking time out for exercise during the day, as it takes hours planning, getting ready, getting there, doing it, getting back, getting changed again etc. Getting up super early to do it seems like it’s adding more stress than it’s relieving. And evenings are for dinner!

I need my business to survive
to support myself now and later, but I need to survive first.

How to find a good balance?



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Comments

  • Afraser
    Afraser Member Posts: 4,435
    As far as I know, stress is not considered a cause for bc. But it’s not all that good for your general health - it depends of course on what kind of stress. Some stresses can be invigorating, a bit of an adrenalin rush. Others are not, they wear you down and erode your energy and emotional
    resilience. I found taking out a gym membership helped - I’d paid so I should use it! After a while, it became a habit, a good one. It’s amazing how much time you can find to do the things you want to do. So
    much harder to find time for things you don’t want to do. If you can find some form of exercise you enjoy - walking, dancing, running, Zumba, whatever - you’re more likely to stick with it. Best wishes. 
  • Halla
    Halla Member Posts: 185
    What time of day did you go to the gym when you were working @Afraser ?
  • Afraser
    Afraser Member Posts: 4,435
    12 months after diagnosis, when I decided to make some changes, I was able to switch to a four day week, so at first I went on Friday mornings to a yoga class about 10.30. I’m not an early morning person! The main thing that helped was to make it a regular weekly commitment, same day, same time, not just go when I felt like it. Being part of a group was useful too. After a while, I added a Sunday morning workout. I kept up yoga and walking at home during lockdowns and restrictions - just resumed my yoga class today, it was terrific!! 
  • FLClover
    FLClover Member Posts: 1,573
    I think that stress can actually cause it. Not the good kind, that motivates you to do things (if that’s even stress). It’s the one when you’re constantly worrying about something, running around like crazy, overworking yourself etc. When you stop to take a break, and can’t even relax cos your body is not used to it. That’s pretty bad in my opinion. If you put yourself on autopilot, you can keep going and achieving. You can work quite hard with little rest. But one day, your body is gonna break down and get bc. This is my personal experience. There were no other risk factors. I’ve read countless comments from bc ladies, and one thing we all seem to have in common is being highly stressed and anxious, overworked, suffering from bottled up trauma, one or all of these 👈🏻. I don’t think food and drink play such a big part as these factors do, or even exercise. It’s the psychological and emotional breakdown which I believe causes high anxiety, and depression in some cases, and that’s when the immune system weakens and affects the body physically. Of course I could be wrong, but I have an inkling I’m not. Either way, eliminating stress as much as possible can only do you good. And exercise you love is also a tremendous help overall. 
    I hope you manage to keep your business going without too much harm to yourself ♥️
  • Halla
    Halla Member Posts: 185
    edited May 2021
    I’ve noticed that too @FLClover, and I am definitely the worrying anxious personality type. Although I did have risk factors - I drank a fair bit of alcohol, used to smoke, am overweight and didn’t have kids...but then those factors are really a result of me being anxious and stressed so 🤷🏼‍♀️
    I also took the pill and HRT.
  • Keeping_positive1
    Keeping_positive1 Member Posts: 555
    Well worth watching this ABC Science Catalyst episode.


    https://youtu.be/CWg90-oOZ3I




  • FLClover
    FLClover Member Posts: 1,573
    I used to smoke as well, years ago. But a woman asked this question on the fb page, and most of the responses were from women who’d never smoked, hardly drank, very fit and watched what they ate. Plus, a lot of the women here have children, some even 3 or 4!! So I’m starting to think that might not even play a part. It’s all still research. I’ve asked so many specialists and no one really knows. So I can only go from myself, and what I’ve read. Most of us seem to have troubles stemming from childhood, cos let’s face it, I don’t think anyone’s parents or grandparents really knew what they were doing. I say this half jokingly, but there’s heaps of truth there. We have so many traumas that are just simmering inside, not recognised as such and therefore ignored, causing them to manifest in different ways and illnesses. Trauma and emotional damage doesn’t just go away on its own. It’s there, in our bodies, causing pain. Then there’s the negative self talk due to lack of self esteem most of us experience, due to one reason or another. Bullying etc at school, work. And there you have it. One miserable, trauma filled body, trying desperately to make ends meet in the rat race. 
    I haven’t painted a very nice picture, but as I said, this is just my experience. It could be completely wrong for others 🤷🏼‍♀️. It’s only from self analysis. 
  • iserbrown
    iserbrown Member Posts: 5,716
    edited May 2021
    When you work for yourself managing time and income is intense.   Needing to combat fatigue is vital otherwise concentration levels in your work is hard to maintain. 
    Finding 30 minutes daily is beneficial 
    From the BCNA website 

    "Exercise and staying fit | Breast Cancer Network Australia" https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/exercise-and-staying-fit/
  • Halla
    Halla Member Posts: 185
    Thanks @sister that’s really helpful! They are all great ideas 🙏🏻. 
  • Halla
    Halla Member Posts: 185
    @FLClover ...agree with all that ...the body keeps the score...I almost feel lucky that my body has given me a wake up call to look after myself better before it’s too late!
  • FLClover
    FLClover Member Posts: 1,573
    I feel the same @Halla
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,961
    There's a webinar coming up in June (?) about cancer and exercise - I think it's through Cancer Council NSW.
  • Zoffiel
    Zoffiel Member Posts: 3,374
    After BCV2 In 2016 I'd lost my job and couldn't work. I was also emotionally, physically and financially screwed. Living in Bum Fuck West was not helpful when it comes to finding help for the above conditions.

    My breast care nurse got me a 'pity pass' to the closest YMCA. I think that could have saved my life. Unable to afford or access physio, rehab, counselling etc, dragging my sorry arse into the gym a few days a week gave me purpose and helped me heal. I didn't care what I did as long as I could put earplugs in if anyone was yelling at me. It was passively social as well.

    COVID, strangely, jettisoned me into back into the full time workforce. I can't get to the gym anymore and haven't had a swim since Feb 2020. I so miss it. My weekly commute is nearly 600 now which doesn't leave much time at either end of the day, hey? So I get up at 4 am, walk myself 8 km then walk The Hound for half an hour. 

     It's up to her how much time she spends sniffing, pIssing and shitting. Maybe she gets more value from that than walking for the sake of it? I can't apply the same philosophy to my difficult body. She has a better time than I do.

    Do the best you can, and don't stop unless you physically can't continue. Walk if you can't run. Whatever you can do is better then nothing. Mxx


  • Halla
    Halla Member Posts: 185
    Wow that’s very impressive @Zoffiel, 4am, 8kms!! In nature?