Stress Fracture

Like most men, I usually don't visit the doctor unless there's a spear through my chest or something else of a pertinent nature arises.

But...since I'm now covered with health insurance I figured that it might be time to see the family physician and have him take a gander at anything that might have cropped up in recent years.

Since I'm a new patient to him, I had to fill out a questionnaire detailing medical history, etc. Maybe I haven't been to the doctor's in a while, but I couldn't help but notice some particularly odd questions...

What is your main cause of stress?

Of course I immediately checked off work and home!

Is there a threat of domestic abuse?

Does mental abuse by a crazy family count? Can I go into the "family relocation program" if that's the case? Or do I just have to continue dealing with the stress and allow the medical industry to medicate me into oblivion?

And this final question kind of made me stop and think...

Do you feel safe at home?

There was no place to expand upon that other than checking "yes" or "no" so I eventually checked "yes" after laughing (not really out loud, but enough so that anyone watching would think there was something wrong with me). I almost wanted to write in the margins, "with minor reservations".

So far, everything checked out ok (though I still have to succumb to the dreaded needles for blood work). Since I last visited a health care related facility last year (a Walgreen's clinic as it was less of a wait time and probably better care than I would have received at that HMO place which would have accepted my insurance) for an earache, I found that my blood pressure has come down and that I've shed over 30 pounds.

What's funny about that last part is that I've noticed the weight loss since I had no loops left on my belt and had to buy a new one and that my pants are bunching up around the waist. Even a woman at work asked if I was losing weight and I said yes. She followed her inquiry up with probably the best question that applied to my situation.

"Are you on the high stress diet?"

Yes...yes I am. Between work demands, dealing with a crazy family and being blamed on both fronts from everything encompassing a global recession to being unable to locate red pepper flakes, it's taken its toll.

Unfortunately, until I succeed in fixing things, every time I walk into either place, I have to ask myself...



Yet, I still go in.

A recent horoscope said that I have to "fix my life".

Now I just need some psychological splints to mend that fracture.

Soon...very soon. ;)