Stressing and Slowing Down

Part of the reason that I haven't been posting daily is that I have developed a bit of a stress reaction that has made it difficult to type. While I have had eyelid twitches before when under stress, this time has been difficult. I seem to have developed some involuntary muscle jerks in my left arm and hand. It has made typing difficult as my hand will suddenly skitter across the keyboard creating a bizarre spelling of words or it just won't cooperate in staying still.

I have been under a lot of stress, but this latest development has given me ample opportunities to try to do one thing. I have found that when I am calmer, quiet, and more at ease the twitches and jerks diminish greatly. If I am just sitting and watching television or doing something else and I start to feel the twitches, I have to stop and try to calm myself down and get back to a point of relaxation. When I have been at the keyboard or texting on the phone, I have to slow way down to get a clear message written. Even as I type this, I am going slower than I am normally able to type, but I have gotten through this whole thing without having one twitch or jerk.

At first, the twitching was causing me worry. The worst case scenario was running through my mind like Multiple Sclerosis, a stroke, or a tumor. The last one also provided me with a laugh during this stressful time. Arnold Schwartzenegger's voice from Kindergarten Cop was saying "It's not a too-muh." That moment provided me a laugh and the realization that I was overreacting. So, this involuntary muscle jerking, which has been supremely irritating and stressful in and of itself has allowed me to practice slowing down, breathing more, and allowing myself to relax.