Day 10: Calm Before the Storm

Weight:  186 lbs 
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  131/85*
Feeling:    
  Pre-Cryo:    Doing Good! 
  Post-Cryo:   Great!

No pictures today - I'm sorry.  Just as I was teaming up with my pals to jump into the machine, one of the others felt a bit overwhelmed by the stress of the impending storm and in comforting her, I forgot all about snapping a smiley-selfie.  

But, here's what...

She has never been through a hurricane and was feeling incredibly stressed.  In talking about the storm's path, she finally just released her pent up stress and had a small moment.    We put her into the unit first - and while she normally counts the seconds until she can get out (she isn't a fan of the cold), this time, she was absorbing it all without a word.  By the time her session was up, she was calm and remarked how relaxed she felt.  

I already knew this effect from a previous experience of my own, but it was wonderful to see someone else get to experience it firsthand.  It's easy to say that cryotherapy relieves anxiety and stress on an everyday basis, but you really see it when you show up mid-crisis and go from a small panic attack to feeling that sweet release.  

If you're ever having that kind of day...the one where you just know you're about to lose it.  When you have a hairpin trigger and are going to either burst into tears or fall apart, I can't recommend this enough.  For me (and for her) - and for many, many others - it's been an instant relief.  Better than anything else I can imagine.  Think of it as a bonafide "chill pill", perhaps?  It's that thing that turns your inner turmoil into a sudden calm, where you know you can get through it just fine.  The soothing effect is unlike anything I had experienced before.

I'm glad she got what she needed and I am glad I was able to witness that another person had the same experience.  For me, this validates the claims out there in cryotherapy land that speak of the benefits to your emotional state.

If I am ever going through an incredibly tumultuous time, I intend to make cryotherapy a cornerstone of my plan for survival.

Life here remains just that tumultuous...Hurricane Matthew is still an uncertainty, and a dangerous one.  In any case, it will almost certainly interfere with cryotherapy tomorrow.  I dropped many strong hints that if anyone went for cryotherapy tomorrow, I was only a text/phone call/smoke signal/telepathic thought away...and meant it.  I expect a fair amount of stress over the next day or two - I'm all about relieving it however I can.  As long as we have power, I will update either way - but it's touch and go.  

Pre-Cryo:
I woke up slightly tired, having stayed up late deliberately to watch the storm coverage and then later to fret over it a bit.  When I woke, I dragged a bit trying to understand the storm coverage which seems to vary from "prepare for doom" and "everything is just fine"...I feel fine, but I suppose I have more stress than I am really acknowledging.  I owe that to cryotherapy...I don't feel it like I probably would.

Of course, I always look forward to cryotherapy - so, I was happy to get ready and carry on.  

Post-Cryo:
I felt bad about leaving when I almost wanted to stay.  After all, leaving meant I had to go home and do actual work (storm prep)...not fun.  But the Cryo954 staff needed to do their own storm prep and I was definitely in the way...so, I left before they threw me out.

It was only after I left that I realized I didn't ask when they would reopen...

I know they are closed Thursday, for the storm - of course.  But what about Friday?  Saturday?  I find myself almost in a bit of a worry wondering when I get to go back...ugh.  Then I remember I have bigger worries at the moment and refocus.

It is in fact time to work.  There are storm shutters being put up, a patio to clear, cleaning to do, stocking - it sounds silly, but if you lose power for a week, you want all the clean laundry you can get now.

I feel good, energetic and ready to get it done...but there is a bit of a lazy side to me too that really just wants to play instead.  I can't blame it on cryotherapy - I think I just don't want to have to do all this work...

But, it waits for me either way.

Tomorrow should be interesting!  See you in the storm!
Let's hope a house doesn't land on my sister this time...last time I didn't even get the pretty red sparkly shoes.