So, I went to my PCP last week for a followup on my meds after my sky-high blood pressure reading in the ER. The good news is that we finally have my blood pressure at an acceptable leve.

Then, he asked if I was getting enough sleep.

Well…

I told him I usually woke up about 3:00 am to go to the bathroom, then couldn’t get back to sleep so I’d get up to do some computer work. We talked about melatonin and other drugs and I declined for now.  Melatonin sometimes works but I never know when that will be.  I’m not sure I want to get into other meds at this time, either.

Somehow, this discussion morphed into the rest of my life – trying to arrange mom’s service, trying to get her to Maine for burial, my broken thumb, plumbing issue 1 ($$$) and ongoing plumbing issue 2 ($?), DH testing, work, piano students, music rehearsals, and on and on.

So, I came home and checked MyChart.  I saw new words in there I’d never seen before.  Psychosocial stress.  What in the world?

My friend Google says:

“Psychosocial stress is the emotional and physical strain resulting from adverse social situations, interpersonal relationships, or life demands (e.g., job insecurity, discrimination, or traumatic events) that exceed an individual’s coping abilities. It triggers both psychological (anxiety, burnout) and physiological reactions (elevated cortisol, inflammation). Chronic exposure can lead to severe mental and physical health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, depression, and cognitive decline.”

So, I guess he was right – I am psychosocially stressed.  And I don’t see any way out of it in the near term.  Plumbing issue 2 was fixed – finally – Monday so there’s one issue done with.  My mom’s service will happen on Saturday ready or not.

Other than that, the PSS will go on and on and on…