May 2009

SPEEDCLEANING

by Lia Halsall

Or in my case, slow cleaning. LOL!! After all, I am still recovering from surgery. Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Centuary Stress Syndrome finally arrived in the mail Friday. I’ve been anxiously waiting for this book to arrive to find out more about adrenal fatigue. Well I picked it up last night and four hours later had to put it down otherwise I would’ve jepordized an entire night’s sleep. It was that interesting a read, well for me anyway. It totally made sense and there were many, I repeat many light bulb moments. Finally a book that not only had answers but also solutions.

“The major symptom that is most disturbing for anyone suffering from adrenal fatigue is indeed fatigue. In most cases of adrenal fatigue, there are life situations that are draining, such as being around a certain person or group, in a particular building or environment, at work or at home or in some other specific situation that leaves you feeling excessively tired or stressed. Therefore, finding out what drains you and tired you out will help uncover the external factors using up your adrenal factors. These external factors are what I call the energy robbers.”

Once upon a time I used to be house proud, my home was my castle and I took great pride in it’s appearance but that hasn’t been the case since 2004. When I sat down and worked out what had actually been going on in my life since then it was no wonder I had ended up where I am now. Here have been my most significant energy robbers:

2003: Allergy Testing & Skin Biopsy
2004-2008: 2 x High Stress Job Roles
2004: Allergy Testing & Skin Biopsy
2005: Dad’s Kidney Rejection & Removal
2005: 3 x Figure Competitions
2006: 4 x Figure Cometitions
2006: Allergy Testing & Skin Biopsy
2006: Breast Augmentation Surgery
2007: Dad’s 2nd Kidney Transplant
2007: Allergy Testing & Skin Biopsy
2007: Elimination Diet
2007: 1st Shoulder Surgery
2007: 93 Food Sensitivity Panel
2008: Mum’s Cancer Diagnosis
2008: Dad’s Death
2008: 2nd Shoulder Surgery
2008: Mum’s Death
2009: 1st Liposuction Surgery
2009: 2nd Liposuction Surgery

When you live your life from day to day you really don’t think twice about life’s challenges, but when you write them down and they’re right there in front of you in black and white they really do add up to a whole lot of stess don’t they. Little did I realise what damage stress can actually do to my adrenal glands.

So basically for the past five years now things haven’t been as they should be and today I’m making a conscience effort to do something about it. Now obviously due to my recent surgery I can’t be a bull out of a gate and take control of my life with both hands, now that would be silly and only hurt my recovery so it’s slow and steady as it goes for the time being. SPEEDCLEANING is a book I bought after reading about it over on Hilary’s Blog. It’s going to help me clean smart and not hard so that little by little I can get my house back to the way it once used to be. For me, this has been a huge energy robber and by doing something small every day will not only be a step in the right direction but hopefully won’t cause further adrenal fatigue. Slow and steady as it goes should be my new quote don’t you think. LOL!!

Already I feel better for getting that out of my head and out into the open.

Small steps for now = huge success later on.

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Hilary Sunday 03 May 09 at 07:55: My goodness when you lay it all out like that, you have been through an enormously stressful few years Lia! Fingers crossed you can sort out the adrenal fatigue issues soon.

I keep my Speedcleaning book in my coffee table drawer. If I see it, it helps remind me what I should be doing!! That said, I’ve been a bit slack with my cleaning schedule lately! Renovations will do that I guess!

Hope you’re having a great weekend.

Hilary xx

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Shelley Stark Sunday 03 May 09 at 07:57: Hey Lia

I think we all have adrenal fatigue to some degree. It’s part of life, the associated stresses and things we HAVE to do as a woman and unless there’s a fairy out there to do everything for us I think we need to cope the best we can. I, too, used to be very house proud, spick and span, and used to stress if it wasn’t this way but over the past years I’ve come to realise that it really isn’t that important. Noone cares if the bed isn’t made, the washing’s on the lounge to be folded, etc. I do the neccesities now and that’s it and I’m less stressed this way.

Glad you’re on the mend again. I think you’re a nutter (LOL) for going through it all again.

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Jehanne Sunday 03 May 09 at 20:21: Wow Lia – when you put it all down like that I amazed that you are still standing – you are an amazing warrior and I truly pray that things settle down for you and you can find plenty of time to rest and do those thigns you love!

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Frankie Sunday 03 May 09 at 21:09: Lia, so much unrelenting stress. It’s a wonder your body could cope at all. So glad you are looking into this now and have identified it.

By the way, I have that Speed Cleaning book also but the house is such a bloody mess I can’t find it!!

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Eryn Paige Monday 04 May 09 at 05:35: Hi Lia,

I am sorry to hear about the great losses and stress you have experienced. Stress can have devastating effects on the human body and mind too.

I too suffered from adrenal fatigue for many years. Really, I like to call it “whole body and every cell in the body fatigue.”

I was diagnosed via saliva test by Diagnos-Techs, Inc., Clinical and Research Laboratory which is located in Kent, Washington. The test revealed things were not looking good for my adrenals – I was tested as being in about the worst stage. Let me tell you, I felt like I was in the “worst stage.”

I too read “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.” Though it was a bit helpful to perhaps understand the effects of stress, nothing really improved from applying any knowledge from that book. I am glad I read it though, as the book did bring more attention to the critical role of the adrenals and how stresses can negatively affect them.

I hope it helps you though.

My journey back to wellness was long and rigorous. I spent thousands of dollars going from doctor to doctor hoping someone would just tell me what I had to do to get well. I took about every kind of diagnostic test available.

I went to a long list of doctors and natural health practitioners. Just about every kind of doctor really. Let’s see; acupuncture, medical doctors (4), chiropractor applying nutritional advise and supplements, myofascial release (a type of deep massage) in Sedona, naturopathic medical doctor – fully tested hormones to see if I needed bioidentical hormones, hmmm that is what I can remember now.

Now they all helped a little bit, but my poor health remained. In fact, it seemed to be faltering in about every area.

OK, and let’s also throw in the fact that I was experiencing debilitating anxiety attacks for good measure too. This whole “loss of health fiasco” was brought about by stress – so watching your stress levels is so true.

It was a very depressing time of my life. My 2 children were young, and somehow God did give me the strength to just get through the day. Talking about strength, on far too many days even talking required too much energy from me. Clapping my hands at my children’s sports events would leave me further physically exausted.

It was not until I really dug into natural health and applied those principles, that my health turned around.

A big piece of my getting well was doing a colon cleanse with an excellent product. My husband is the one that thank God brought that to my attention. Remember the saying, “Death Begins in The Colon,” it is so true!

Anyway, my reason for this post, is to let you know that the body really can heal. Because of my experience, and then yes regaining my health, I created a website to share my personal journey back to wellness. Inquiries about my healing, spurred the creation of my website. The information shared is what allowed me to become a fully functional member of society again.

Lia, maybe there is some bit of wellness information you can extract that will help you also strengthen your health.

I am now free of anxiety attacks. I feel like I have reclaimed my life again. I no longer spend all of my time going to doctors. I no longer spend thousands of dollars going to doctors that are not covered by insurance, nor do I spend thousands on nutritional supplements. You really can save money if you are healthier!

Also of importance, I now know how to take much better care of myself. I am always striving for balance and try my best to keep the stress in check. I also try to focus on the joy in life and surround myself with people, experiences and foods that nourish me and my soul.

I am now the Committee Chair for my son’s Boy Scout troop of over 26 boys. I am now substitute teaching in the classroom (K-6) at my children’s elementary school – I used to be a fifth grade teacher. I continue to work to share outstanding natural health building knowledge to help others get well, stay healthier and reclaim their lives too!

Energy and brain power really can return!

All the best to you on your healing journey.

Eryn Paige

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Lia Halsall Sunday 03 May 09 at 07:56: I guess if we all layed out what significant events we had endured we’d all be some what surprised Hilary. Getting on top of it all is going to take a better part of this year now but that’s okay because my health and well being is worth the effort.

It’s a motivating little book Hilary. I’ve also got their “How to be Comfy” for inspiration, I couldn’t help myself. LOL!!

I will, you enjoy your Sunday. xxx

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Lia Halsall Sunday 03 May 09 at 07:58: Adrenal Fatigue is quite commong amongst bodbybuilders and it’s not surprising now I’ve learnt more about the syndrome. Just because it’s a part of life doesn’t mean it has to stay that way, especially when it impacts your health. That’s why I’m so determined to get on top of it so that I’m happy and healthy once again Shelley.

If it were just as simple as not making a bed here or there I wouldn’t be bothered but it’s much worse than that. For example, I haven’t seen the carpet in the ironing room since we moved in for the moutain of clothes that it’s covering and to find anything is like going on expedition in there. Coming out alive is an accomplishment. LOL!! It’s important to me to take control of my life again, it’s kind of symbolic especially after losing Mum & Dad. It’s something I need to do, that’s all.

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Lia Halsall Sunday 03 May 09 at 20:22: Everything in life happens for a reason and what doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger Jeh. I’m where I’m meant to be in life right now and have absolutely no doubt that this new path will be a long yet worthwhile one. I have complete faith. xxx

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Lia Halsall Sunday 03 May 09 at 21:10: Frankie why does that not surprise me coming from you. I’m surprised you have any spare energy after the eventful weekend you’ve had. LOL!!

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Lia Halsall Monday 04 May 09 at 05:36: Morning Eryn,

First of all I wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to post a truly heartfelt and informative repsonse. Hearing and communicating with other sufferers reassures me that life can be and will be better. Thank you for letting me know about your website, I’ll be checking that out too. The more information I’m armed with the better.

Again I can’t thank you enough for sharing with me your story and experience. I have no doubt that it will help me in my own way.

Lia

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