Signs the Stress is Getting to Me

I'm kind of a stuffer. I don't express my stress levels explicitly when the pressure is beginning to build, but there are certainly signs when I am having difficulty keeping my head above water. I guess it's one of those times... My kids are out of school; I officially took over as Chief Resident; Just got called to the Primary Presidency; Mom had some minor heart surgery; Brother is about to deploy to Iraq; One of my mentors from dental school died... So there is certainly a lot to ponder.

I notice myself sighing loudly a lot. I notice my cheek muscles are often sore from clenching my teeth together. But my greatest outward manifestation of stress has got to be my sleepwalking adventures. They have been plentiful of late.

I usually don't remember what I've done, but can sometimes remember the reasons behind some of my nocturnal actions if I think hard enough. But sometimes not. For instance, I woke up the other night and realized I had moved furniture around. Wayne is deaf, so he never noticed. I have no clue what I was trying to accomplish and have absolutely no memory of having done this stuff. Hopefully I didn't wake up the neighbors.

Another of my crazier recent exploits came from a bit of comatose problem solving. I have this habit of curling my wrists under me at night time, and I worry that one day I'm going to develop carpal tunnel syndrome because I usually wake up having cut off the circulation in my hands (no hands = no livelihood for a dentist)... So I guess this worry has plagued me enough that my subconscious stepped in to offer a solution. I woke up a few weeks ago having braced my wrists with masking tape. The only reason I remembered my dreamy rationale was because it actually worked: All night I kept trying to put my hands in that position, and kept reminding myself that the tape was meant to stop me from hurting myself. Hey! I'm pretty smart in my sleep!

Actually, I had a moment of pure genius during dental school while taking a nap in the midst of an all-nighter. On the eve of a biochemistry final, one of my dental school friends called to ask a question about the material. I gave an elaborate and articulate answer, for which he thanked me the next day after taking the exam, which contained the very question he had inquired about the night previous... Only problem was, I was asleep when I answered him. I didn't recall what I had told him. I don't even remember him calling. But I guess my explanation was correct! So apparently, I know biochemistry in my dreams.

A few nights ago, I shot out of bed at the sound of a car passing through the alley. I remember "waking up," and very purposefully walking into the kitchen, through the living room, to the front door, back to the kitchen, into one bathroom, into the other bathroom... all the while rearranging things here and there that I ought not to be able to see in the dark. Wayne asked me if I was okay, which I very cheerfully replied, "Yes, Honey! I'm perfectly alright! I'm great!" ...Which was his tip-off that I was not awake or my response would have been much grumpier. But all the next day, I was completely worthless and tired. I'm wearing myself out with these little sleepwalking treks.

I once woke up in the vines of the jungle, pushing the leafy obstructions out of the way as I peered forward on my quest... Only the vines were my hanging clothes and the jungle was the back of my closet. I wonder where I'll end up next!



I guess I'll be happy, as long as I don't start to run into any walls.