The pain of a broken heart is real… it causes real physical ailments. We must take care of ourselves.

I experienced some extreme stress about a year and a half ago, and the effect on my health was severe. A couple of days later I got sciatica and could hardly walk for about a week and a half (never had it before or since). I have a shoulder injury, and when I experienced stress at a desk job I could actually feel my shoulder start to ache (it never aches now that I have a zero-stress physical job--which by the way, pays more). I remember years ago when I was going through the stress of divorce, and many other situations which were beyond my control, but which affected me, my body odour was horrible! I used every deodorant I could find but nothing worked. Stress is bad!!!!!! Do what you can to reduce it or eliminate it. I intentionally have a zero-stress job because of this and would recommend it to others. People don't understand why I love my job so much, when I'm intelligent enough to be doing things that in their minds would bring me more satisfaction and money, but when I come home my body is tired. When I go to bed at night I'm asleep in 5 minutes or less. At the end of the day and the end of the week I can forget about my job and just relax. I believe I will live longer because I do what I do and am not in a high-stress environment every day.

Thank you for the reminder. We are all very fragile as we are under so much sorrow and stress. We need to exercise or keep our minds busy to try to avoid as much stress as possible. Last time I went to my Dr, my blood pressure was up and she told me to exercise and release the bad feelings. Prayers and hugs

So sorry to hear what you have been through Ishallwear. How are you feeling?

Stress is the worst thing for us and estrangement brings so much of if. This is why we must stay close to The Lord and rest in Him. Only He can change things. We must do the best we can for our bodies. I know one thing I can do is get more sleep.

May God help each one of us good mothers.

Ishallwearpurple, it is so frustrating is it not, to know how damaging stress is to our bodies, yet we also know that we are unable to "turn off" the stress of losing a child....When my mind gets on this merry go round, I just end up saying "help Lord help," as I know not what else to ask for, I just know without the Lord's help I can't survive this stress either forever!

prayers for all us parents going through this time in our life,and protect us.

Thank you everyone for your amazing responses. We are all enduring the same pain and its wonderful to know we are not alone although I do wish we never had to experience such inexplicable loss in our lives.

I think what the mind cannot cope with manifests in our bodies so that we can deal with it somehow. And how? Only by prayer and God's help and being ultra kind to ourselves.

You know some adult offspring have been known to even kill their parents - particularly their mothers - see You Tube True Crime - this has not happened to us, however, they can slowly kill us off it we let them so we must keep close to Jesus and rely on Him totally for the relief of our pain.

I am on antidepressants but gaining weight and am thinking of stopping them. I now wake up with nocturnal panic attacks (despite antidepressants). Therapist said its because the eye stroke happened as I slept so subconsciously the body is relating to this.

We are wonderfully made by God and I don't think He is happy about estrangement and all it brings. We must put our trust in Him that He will deal with our EC's like the prodigal son.

Thank you for your good wishes. Praying God's protection and healing over each one of you my friends (((hugs))).

I am on antidepressants and xanax for all my problems,but not only my EC,health but they dont help me either some days are better than others.

I am so thankful for this group and how we rally around each other!! God has given us each other for strength and hope and love-we ALL deserve it!