Immunity, Stress & Motherhood!

Well didn't last week hit me for a six. Like literally, I felt like total shit. I had laryngitis, and I had to reschedule patients for the first time in nearly 20 years in practice, cray cray.

Like many of you I'm sure, I pride myself on my general immunity. I'm resilient, I'm strong, and I don't have time to get sick... right!

Well maybe that was the problem last week for me. I hadn't prioritised my down time, and the start of this year has been busy, and a bit stressy too!

For those of you thrown back into Victorian lockdown, I can't even imagine the extra level that this is placing on your stress load.

But why should our stress matter? How does it impact on immunity. Let me give you a little mama lesson!

Immunity is strongly linked to our stress response. When we get stressed, we have this part of our brain called the amygdala which redirects all of our focus to the things we are stressed about. Part of this also causes our cortisol to be released.

Cortisol is a hormone.

This hormone decreases our immune system sensitivity, making us more susceptible to get sick.

Now in mama mode, our stress can be managed through an ongoing level of heightened function. You know the ones, where we can't rest on the couch without completing that to-do list, or we wake at 2-4am each night, or if the kids wake us we can't go back to sleep.

Tell me I'm not alone.

I feel myself sliding into this super busy mode at times, but this time I hadn't. I had been practicing yoga, eating well, and drinking enough water etc etc.

But then a pretty stressy few days, and my body told me it was time.

Time to Rest

Time to Recharge

Time to Reflect

So I did.

It was glorious. My dog loved it too. Now I know I'm in a privileged position, I have staff to reschedule my day and my kids are old enough to be at school, so I could actually rest.

But I thought I really needed to share this with you all. Because sometimes we need to know that we aren't alone in this. That we aren't failing by being sick.

That it isn't a sign of weakness.

That it is our body giving us a much needed reset.

My reset is still happening. I'm still in bed by 8:30/9 every night. I'm not pushing myself to get up and exercise. I'm being conscious about my food intake and my water.

I'm still listening to my body.

I see this as an immune challenge. Something we need to allow our immune system to do it's job. Yes, if you know me, talking for a few days can be tough 😂😂, but it is for the better.

Here's hoping that you get a chance for rest, recharge and reflection earlier than at burnout mode.

Much Mama Love!

Dr Ali

Chiro, Mama, Lover the amazing mama brain living inside of YOU.