The doc says "so don't do that."
I never thought that was a funny joke. Doc it hurts everytime I try to run. So don't run? Doc it hurts every time I try to breath. So don't breathe? Some things you got to do. Not doing is not an option.
Psychosomatic illness: A disorder that involves both mind and body is called a psychosomatic illness. In other words, the illness may be emotional or mental in origin but have physical symptoms. Psychosomatic illnesses are not imaginary. They are physical disorders in which both emotions and thought patterns are believed to play a central role, and usually develop when a person's disease-fighting ability is weakened due to stress. After a particularly stressful event, like the loss of a loved one, for example, an individual might develop high blood pressure shortly afterward or even have a heart attack.
Is it psychosomatic to think that you are psychosomatic? Maybe I should find a couch to lay down on and start describing my childhood. I've had to deal with a few exercise related injuries this past couple of years. My body is healed for the moment but I am dealing with some major mental scar tissue. I expect to get hurt. Everytime I go out for a run I know with one hundred percent complete certainty that I am going to pull a muscle. No matter how my rational side tries to convince me it's not going to happen, that I am taking care of myself, I still know it's going to happen. Maybe not today, but probably tomorrow. It's inevitable. So every little twinge, every little ache becomes HUGE. I'm so tired of dealing with it, I want to wrap myself in bubblewrap and quit.
Yesterday I ran, and felt a odd little ache in my hamstring. It was stiff after I ran, and I stretched it out. As the day progressed it got looser, felt better. It's a little achy this morning, but probably a 1 on the pain scale. This ache is a nonevent. A mere blip in the history of aches and pains. I have obsessed over it for 24 hours now. I have poked it, used the foam roller on it, stretched it, and poked it some more searching for a tender spot that I can say "ah ha! I KNEW it, I've pulled my muscle." Nevermind that usually when you pull a muscle you know pretty much right away from the pain and the limping. However, in my case I KNOW I pulled a muscle because I have a race next Sunday. So of course I'm not going to be able to participate, my psychosomatic brain tells me. You haven't raced with a healthy body since September. Why should this one be any different?
I know everything there is to know about treating muscle strains. I know how to deal with physical therapy, and ice wraps, and stretching and scar tissue. But I don't know how to deal with a healthy body.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 timothy 1:7
wanting to be fearlessly yours,
Elizabeth
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