PFS = Phuqed From Stress

Guys, More proof it’s all about the stress. I had been 100% symptom free for a couple months and actually feeling well above 100% of my pre-Fin baseline for the last couple…I mean seriously kicking ass physically, mentally & sexually (well, tapping more than kicking ;)). Then a few weeks ago, I allowed myself to become highly stressed for an extended period of time (I’m talking the panicked, obsessing, mind-racing, pacing kind) over an extremely challenging personal issue. After nearly a week of this, my nuts suddenly started to ache again, my digestive system turned to shit (pun not intended, but highly accurate :)) and I started having trouble sleeping (both falling & staying asleep). A couple days later, a number of my original crash symptoms came flooding back. Keep in mind, nothing else in my life/lifestyle had changed other than the stress. So, over the last week, I have gotten my stress levels back in check, have started to sleep again and everything else is falling back into place rather quickly (I imagine because I am in such a better place now than I was when I originally crashed). I will update on progress.

The point of this post is simply this…I believe stress is a huge part of what allowed us to get fucked up, kept us fucked up and will keep fucking us up until we learn to control/eliminate it. Do some research on stress and the effect it has on your endocrine, nervous, digestive, immune, etc. systems. It fucks you up…hard! Were there some devastating hormonal issues caused by taking/quitting Fin?...Fuck yes! (and as I mentioned in my last post, I think these were exacerbated by the fact that our systems were already unbalanced from chronic stress), but I am certain now that the mental/emotional stress caused from the symptoms of that initial hormonal cluster fuck (understandably so) and the subsequent discovery of PH (and all its fucking horror stories), etc. was a key contributor to our PFS. Most of us seem to be higher stressed, obsessive, over-thinkers (just read the posts on this/other sites if you need proof of that) which, along with the other non-mental/emotional stressors (whether it be bad diets, intoxicant use, poor sleep habits, toxin/xenoestrogen exposure, over-work, over-training, all of the above, etc.), are honestly why I believe we crashed so hard to begin with, why we remain crashed for so long and why we re-crash. Even when we are not “panic stressing” about it all the time, the constant thinking, obsessing, analyzing, etc. of everything we do (or don’t do) within the context of PFS has a huge effect on our stress levels and keeps us operating in a sympathetic nervous mode which continues to challenge our bodies to find homeostasis.

Believe what you want…my money is 100% on eliminating stress (in all its forms…mental, emotional, physical, etc.) as the only way to fully recover from PFS.

What do you do during downswings though? It’s an uphill battle for me to control stress at these points. It’s like no matter what I do my body is in that mode


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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

What do you do during downswings though? It’s an uphill battle for me to control stress at these points. It’s like no matter what I do my body is in that mode


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Breathing exercises, cold exposure, yoga, strong sunlight.

You also live in new york though? EMF's might be problematic for you

@Driven, yeah I can’t control that (EMFs)

I guess I’ll stick to the relaxation techniques.






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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

@Driven, yeah I can’t control that (EMFs)

I guess I’ll stick to the relaxation techniques.






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I know the feeling brother. You aren't alone. At times it can seem like your default state is anxious. Anytime I feel this now I get out of my head and get into my body.

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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

@Driven, yeah I can’t control that (EMFs)

I guess I’ll stick to the relaxation techniques.






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You can always control it. Moving to get better is not a crazy idea.

yeah stress is probably huge. I bet a tropical vacation might do me good. Anyone down for Thailand in winter?

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Originally Posted by basementdweller

Makes sense. I had been working myself stupid prior to pfs... film industry hours plus school p/t. Some of my gut, mental and muscle loss vaguely appeared before my crash tbh. I also crashed hard about two weeks ago, not long after I put in a few long days at work and started reading some of the drama that's been going on in here.

In my CBT class there's a guy who has been crippled with anxiety for two years now after working in the oil sands that I relate to. We both applied for disability (my decision is past due). Either way, I'll just use my savings to travel and bring the protocol with me. I'm not ready to work in any regular capacity and sitting at home coming on forums, obsessing, ruminating is even worse.

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Not to derail the thread, but I also noticed a change in tune here lately. What is going on?

Don't worry too much about EMF's. I have family in NY and they worry, but it's due to a brain illness (in family). I've had like 3-6 phones at a time (not healthy). I keep them out of my room of course (or try too). There are scanners you can buy, but it will not ruin you. Mental health - CBT can help (never helped me, but I was just telling stories (hilarious), showing up late, didn't actually want to be there). Now, I can, when I find a good place. I likely would not return tho, unless I liked the Doctor/Counsellor. I prefer one on one. With focus issues, it's too confusing in a group for me. How>Why to heal anything.

Maybe, I had downswings too, but I never thought about them (or did best not to). Not trying to say don't talk-think things thru (it is actually healthier to do this, if needed). Actually I must have initially with mods, w.r.t. digestion, and fasting.

@basementdweller if I didn't like so many things and was only good at different things, I'd be in the film industry too. I did advertizing, was a waiter, trading, etc. A terrible waiter...

I love NY. Was sad most times I left it. Especially as a kid.

Getting away from big cities prollycontributed to recovery but is not great for my other issues. Its worth it for a time.

In response to Mitch & everyone else reading , my apologies for my tone. I’ve been contributing to this negative vibe.. I understand this forum is not the place for that. It’s what makes it so different than everyone else & important.

I’ve let my darkness get the best of me. I let go of the gratitude & perspective I initially had for a bit cause of the strong downswing that crept on me. what I hope is that this is part of the process & not some legitimate setback because program wise I’ve been on it. I’m working throughly on this area which is my belief, my outlook, acceptance, patience etc.. it’s not an overnight process though.





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One of my thought loops is thinking negatively —> knowing that positive happy thinking is good to combat stress (basically English’s whole belief) —> feel like I’m setting myself back by thinking like such —> feel like I’m going nowhere cause I can’t relax.


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I hate this happened to you man, that's unfortunate.

I will say that I am surprised however. I live a pretty stressful life, and did during recovery.....spend 50-60% of the time on the road for work, plus I work in a pretty demanding field (tech consulting), and I never seemed to have the issue with stress affecting me too much. I mean I'm not superhuman, it definitely affects me, but it hasn't cause me to have any issues come back from PFS, nor did it keep me from recovering. I did however utilize breathing exercises, holosync, and keeping as best mindset as I could.

I believe it’s just a regular downswing Maxout.

I understand that the first 6 months of this thing for most people things swing pretty drastically. I was here before around mid to late July, then the first two weeks of August things were better than they ever had been.

It looks like I’ll get to a better baseline soon. It has to happen.


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Guys, if you don't have mental sides with your neurosteroids all fked up, 2 of the best things you can do are

1) observing your emotions and thoughts without ANY THOUGHT AND JUDGEMENT
2) Meditation

number 1 is hard but the most life changing thing you will ever do. will get rid of your anxiety and bring about emotional intelligence to manage your emotion cycles as well as more

seriously, its the best thing you will ever do for yourself. try to build up to where you can observe something without thought and judgement. it can be looking at a tree without thinking "oh its got green leaves" or "is this even working? man that lakehouse guy is a real phagg8", etc.

then next time you get angry, place your thoughtless observation on your emotions, until you get to the very root of them, until you get the truth.

Journalling and Mindfulness as well are great. Saved me as a kid and mid 20's. Takes a lot of practice (I need to keep it up). Writing is natural to me (although it's a different style everyday...), but meditation I need to do at least 21 days straight to strengthen reinforcement (of the habit and effects). It pulled me out of a major depression at 22, that and running and quitting alcohol (from what I recall).

In a sense: No emotions are real (wrote this on H/S):
"IT gets better. Even in a living hell. When your mind is trying to kill you, those thoughts aren't "real". No emotions are, at their core. For now, just work on getting better. AND: later, acknowledge a feeling as a signal/alert... and react to it later (like anger, depression, anxiety). IN the end, reality can change completely. For the worse as it did to many here, myself included. But also for the better."

Also: writing down 3 positive things (things that happened in the world or around you, per day). Can help.
Positive Affirmations.

Lots of life is filled with bs, so you gotta smile at the little things and take your joys where you can.
If I had no routine, I'd be extremely screwed up.

Also, people around me/family, etc... just channeled whatever into workaholism (also somewhat bad), but that attitude helped me a lot with PSSD, Untreated Mania and Hyperactivity, Substance Abuse, PFS, School, Work, etc.

I agree with Ceremonious. It isn't always just PFS=stress. In short, imagine having one or two other syndromes/diseases/alongside it (and other things you barely think about bc in comparison they are a joke). SO Severe Issue 1 + 2 and now 3... they can interplay. But getting back to health allows you to conquer PFS, and other issues with better health again. And the experience may allow you to make better decisions (mostly talking about myself here). Not all neurochem depressions/etc., have a common singular cause. If they did, SSRI's and SNRI's would A. Work, and B. Work for everyone. I don't want to complicate things for others, peace out. Good day.

-i just wrote this 6 dif ways, all completely different due to cognition/exec fn issues. WHICH did not appear during crash or severe depression mode of PFS, bc, of enzyme inhibition (and like a ton of other things). Since nearly all back, huge issue there. But it'll be aite.

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Originally Posted by Maxout777

I hate this happened to you man, that's unfortunate.

I will say that I am surprised however. I live a pretty stressful life, and did during recovery.....spend 50-60% of the time on the road for work, plus I work in a pretty demanding field (tech consulting), and I never seemed to have the issue with stress affecting me too much. I mean I'm not superhuman, it definitely affects me, but it hasn't cause me to have any issues come back from PFS, nor did it keep me from recovering. I did however utilize breathing exercises, holosync, and keeping as best mindset as I could.

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Thanks Maxout. I'm all good...About a week after pulling my shit back together and I am already back in business (other than a slight digestive issue). I just wanted to remind/caution others about the importance of managing their stress. I am no stranger to stress (business owner, single father, perfectionist...worst of all :(, etc.). I have learned through this process to manage it well (especially as it relates to this shit) to reach the level of recovery I had. This was an extreme, acute situation and I just don't think my foundation was stable enough yet to handle a constant flow of cortisol for a week. I was foolish to let myself run unchecked for that long...it definitely won't happen again.

It's been a bit since I checked in. As an update to my original post, it took me about a week after getting my stress levels back in check to get back to my previous baseline. The only changes I made during that time were to take a week off lifting, switch to decaf coffee and change up my herbal rotation to: early morning - pine pollen, tongkat & mucuna (really like this one Jacknap...thanks for the tip), late morning - rhodiola, eleuthero, schisandra & cordyceps, before bed - ashwagandha. After a couple days, was sleeping mostly thru the night. After a couple more, was sleeping like a rock. By the end of the week, was sleeping like a rock and waking up every morning with a total rager (not too bad for an old man ;)). Back on the old routine since and all is gucci again.

Take away: Whether it's the primary cause or just a major contributor, avoid/manage stress boys...it's a fucking ass biter.

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Originally Posted by Damn

It's been a bit since I checked in. As an update to my original post, it took me about a week after getting my stress levels back in check to get back to my previous baseline. The only changes I made during that time were to take a week off lifting, switch to decaf coffee and change up my herbal rotation to: early morning - pine pollen, tongkat & mucuna (really like this one Jacknap...thanks for the tip), late morning - rhodiola, eleuthero, schisandra & cordyceps, before bed - ashwagandha. After a couple days, was sleeping mostly thru the night. After a couple more, was sleeping like a rock. By the end of the week, was sleeping like a rock and waking up every morning with a total rager (not too bad for an old man ;)). Back on the old routine since and all is gucci again.

Take away: Whether it's the primary cause or just a major contributor, avoid/manage stress boys...it's a fucking ass biter.

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lol thanks for reminding me of that combo. I only used it a couple times but I found it worked really well. for some reason I didn't keep doing it.

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Originally Posted by DrivenToRecover

Breathing exercises, cold exposure, yoga, strong sunlight.

You also live in new york though? EMF's might be problematic for you

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For EMF's, grab yourself a Q-link pendant. I've had one for about a decade now, and I thought about putting it on my site, but haven't yet. They work. In short, it is a little pendant that you wear on a necklace and it sits against your chest. It strengthens your bodies biosphere through a process called sympathetic resonance. This essentially will nullify a good chunk of any EMF negativity you may be having.

I throw mine on when I'm going to be sitting at the computer for long stretches.

This may be the first time it's actually come up, so I don't think it was ever discussed before here.

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Originally Posted by Cdsnuts

For EMF's, grab yourself a Q-link pendant. I've had one for about a decade now, and I thought about putting it on my site, but haven't yet. They work. In short, it is a little pendant that you wear on a necklace and it sits against your chest. It strengthens your bodies biosphere through a process called sympathetic resonance. This essentially will nullify a good chunk of any EMF negativity you may be having.

I throw mine on when I'm going to be sitting at the computer for long stretches.

This may be the first time it's actually come up, so I don't think it was ever discussed before here.

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So those things really have an effect then? I've seen them advertised before and I always thought it was a bunch of BS.

I actually believe Damon was right here
I think stress triggered my original crash and also triggered my second crashes

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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

What do you do during downswings though? It’s an uphill battle for me to control stress at these points. It’s like no matter what I do my body is in that mode


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Replace the p with a g in your bio

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

What do you do during downswings though? It’s an uphill battle for me to control stress at these points. It’s like no matter what I do my body is in that mode


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Replace the p with a g in your bio

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by RickTheRuler

What do you do during downswings though? It’s an uphill battle for me to control stress at these points. It’s like no matter what I do my body is in that mode


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Replace the p with a g in your bio

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Originally Posted by DrivenToRecover

I know the feeling brother. You aren't alone. At times it can seem like your default state is anxious. Anytime I feel this now I get out of my head and get into my body.

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How are you getting in, gimp?

You told a clever or at least not stupid like me guy to avoid TR T and do this instead

This thread was SOOOOO correct

It was around thiamine I took seroquel again

Eyes bulging had to leave that sh It office

But instead of saying that's me and leaving for good I stayed another year

Frame it I. The Louvre