Two weeks ago, I got back from camping. I’d had an amazing holiday and weekend away, but I could barely walk.
Since February this year I’ve been experiencing ‘heel pain’.
Nothing major – this annoying heel pain that wouldn’t go away. Every morning I was hobbling out of bed, holding on to the wall, but then it would ease only to come back after I’d been sitting down.
I thought I’d possibly twisted or sprained something, but it wasn’t really getting in the way of life. It was just a constant niggle.
I was STILL coping and managing, but nowhere near functioning optimally.
I finally googled it and it sounded like plantar fasciitis.
I started yoga again to see if it would help.
And it did.
Until we went camping.
By the third day the thoughts of going to the toilet, I had to literally give myself a good talking to to stand up, nevermind chasing after a 4 year old.
When we stopped at the shops on the way home to get lunch, I hobbled round the shops like an 80 year old.
That night I booked myself into a podiatrist to get this checked out as the pain was incredible.
The appointment came and right enough – this was plantar fasciitis and by the time I totted up the new trainers, insoles and appointment – it was £315 gone in 90 minutes (I’ll need to go back for follow up too).
One of the insights I’ve had during this experience is how much you put up with the niggles such as I did with my foot.
In fact, 4 months of heel pain.
It was only when I was literally struggling to walk and the panic about the summer holidays kicked in, that I eventually sought professional support.
The same is very much true for emotional wellbeing.
Day to day – you’ll put up with the niggles that things aren’t right – maybe you’re:
- Not sleeping well or deeply
- Can’t get up easily in the morning
- Shout at the kids for literally no reason
- Go from 0 to 100 in a millisecond at the drop of a hat
- Dream of running away and living off grid with no one anywhere near you
- Experiencing brain fog and unable to think straight
- On edge all the time and constantly making assumptions and catastrophising
- Thinking all the fucking time and obsessing over things non-stop that really are not important
- Unable to say no or place good boundaries
- Scrolling non-stop or going from app to app to app
- Fed up feeling exhausted all the time
- Full of anger, resentment, rage or tears
Those niggles – were like the niggle I had in my foot. None of them on their own catastrophic yet mean you’re living a sub-optimal life or they may build up into eventual collapse.
Often by the time people come to see me or get to the GP or whatever other action you take, it’s the equivalent of hobbling round Tescos.
Yet it really doesn’t need to be – you don’t need to put up with the niggles.
If you’ve decided enough of the niggles – get in touch and I’ll happily have a chat with you.
Much love, Tricia xxx
