Is anyone else their own (physical) worst enemy?
Discussion
Trying to drag myself out of long covid, and facing early retirement as a result, I've reflected back on the ways my own body has sabotaged my career(s) - always at a point when they were about to become or were really successful.
Has anyone else been inflicted with physical ailments (not Mental Health), whilst achieving? It is almost like the mind is willing but the flesh is weak....
Early twenties, Army, doing well, top third, penultimate exercise at Sandhurst, pneumonia, medical discharge.
Early thirties after 10 years of going from bottom of the rung sales jobs to high end Banking IT sales, hit the 100% club and get a paid holiday to Hawaii. Intestinal complications leads to redundancy.
Retrain as a Commercial Pilot, focus on Safety, get a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety, get to 10 years with current organisation in a job and location that are perfect - Long Covid, early redundancy.
My own body evidently has a self destruct mechanism. Anyone else feel the same?
Thanks
Has anyone else been inflicted with physical ailments (not Mental Health), whilst achieving? It is almost like the mind is willing but the flesh is weak....
Early twenties, Army, doing well, top third, penultimate exercise at Sandhurst, pneumonia, medical discharge.
Early thirties after 10 years of going from bottom of the rung sales jobs to high end Banking IT sales, hit the 100% club and get a paid holiday to Hawaii. Intestinal complications leads to redundancy.
Retrain as a Commercial Pilot, focus on Safety, get a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety, get to 10 years with current organisation in a job and location that are perfect - Long Covid, early redundancy.
My own body evidently has a self destruct mechanism. Anyone else feel the same?
Thanks
Kind of. I am naturally someone who enjoys putting a days work in and likes being busy, and used to be someone who handles it well.
From early 20s I have had autoimmune arthritis, which has ruled out any sort of physical occupation.
It also causes heavy fatigue which gives me an annoying situation where I basically can’t handle a job where work comes at you quickly and you’re constantly exposed to new situations and having to deal with them on the fly, as I could do and enjoyed doing in the past.
Unfortunately slower paced or repetitive jobs bore me to tears within months. I have moved around a lot over the last 10 years work wise, and yet to find a decent balance.
Not as stark as your examples but frustrating nonetheless.
From early 20s I have had autoimmune arthritis, which has ruled out any sort of physical occupation.
It also causes heavy fatigue which gives me an annoying situation where I basically can’t handle a job where work comes at you quickly and you’re constantly exposed to new situations and having to deal with them on the fly, as I could do and enjoyed doing in the past.
Unfortunately slower paced or repetitive jobs bore me to tears within months. I have moved around a lot over the last 10 years work wise, and yet to find a decent balance.
Not as stark as your examples but frustrating nonetheless.
Senior Capt in Army, injury, medical discharge. Mates will be first look half colonels this year, which is when I think it'll start to hit home what I'm missing.
I'm only a few years into my current career so still plenty of time to cock this one up although I am sat at home with Covid at the moment
I'm only a few years into my current career so still plenty of time to cock this one up although I am sat at home with Covid at the moment
JB2410, thanks for your reply. I would imagine there are similarities with your condition and chronic fatigue. I once explained to a colleague it was like the Jason Statham film "Crank" where he needs shots of adrenaline to keep him alive. I can't get motivated by the dull and repetitive, yet the fast moving interesting stuff knackers me after the initial adrenaline "hit". Any other Jason Statham similarity is limited to a bald head and the ability to do a passable Essex accent.....
Have you tried working in a creative sphere? writing/journalism? I'm wondering about trying this if the worst happens as my brain still works.....
Have you tried working in a creative sphere? writing/journalism? I'm wondering about trying this if the worst happens as my brain still works.....
ChocolateFrog said:
Senior Capt in Army, injury, medical discharge. Mates will be first look half colonels this year, which is when I think it'll start to hit home what I'm missing.
I'm only a few years into my current career so still plenty of time to cock this one up although I am sat at home with Covid at the moment
Agree that is a challenge to deal with, Uni mate is now a 3*. And he still keeps in touch !!!!I'm only a few years into my current career so still plenty of time to cock this one up although I am sat at home with Covid at the moment
Be honest, would you have made OF4+? My consolation is that OF2 is my natural level and if the Peter Principle had applied to me I'd have probably got people killed....
Good point, but given all the effort to get to the point where I can actually take my foot off the gas and just enjoy life (and ok, the financial aspects as shallow as they are), there does seem to be this 5th column element that is determined to spoil the party.
I'm not seeking to rise any further, be promoted or paid more. I'm very happy with what I do, I just want the flesh and bone to co-operate and keep this pleasant state of affairs to continue for a bit longer.
Wondering if yes it is mental. Given that the placebo effect is real and does improve health, there must be a negative equivalent. The nagging fear when things are (finally) going well that there is always something that will mess it up, actually is the trigger for an ailment to mess it up.
Well, that was cathartic! Cheers!
I'm not seeking to rise any further, be promoted or paid more. I'm very happy with what I do, I just want the flesh and bone to co-operate and keep this pleasant state of affairs to continue for a bit longer.
Wondering if yes it is mental. Given that the placebo effect is real and does improve health, there must be a negative equivalent. The nagging fear when things are (finally) going well that there is always something that will mess it up, actually is the trigger for an ailment to mess it up.
Well, that was cathartic! Cheers!
Always, its like my body knows when things are going well!!!
Funny thing is, this time its even sabotaged an operation I'm due to have mid April.
Having put off having a major spinal fusion for years, means two weeks in hospital, I have spent the last month doing what I can to ensure Im as physically fit as possible and worked on core strength.
The result of this is that my body has decided to let me diaphragm tear open so I can now hardly breath! Back ops cancelled, and now a new op takes it place
Funny thing is, this time its even sabotaged an operation I'm due to have mid April.
Having put off having a major spinal fusion for years, means two weeks in hospital, I have spent the last month doing what I can to ensure Im as physically fit as possible and worked on core strength.
The result of this is that my body has decided to let me diaphragm tear open so I can now hardly breath! Back ops cancelled, and now a new op takes it place
Can’t seem to stop injuring my fingers.
The local hand unit surgeon has even asked what an earth is going on !
Many years ago almost lost the end of my right hand middle finger with quite nasty laceration.
Fast forward a few years. Did lose the money be of that same very same finger because of a crush injury.
The end tissue died so the end had to be amputated.
Right hand currently suffering with torn tendons in my little finger and index that won’t knit back requiring surgery to fix them.
Not injured them for a while now. Fingers crossed hey lol.
The local hand unit surgeon has even asked what an earth is going on !
Many years ago almost lost the end of my right hand middle finger with quite nasty laceration.
Fast forward a few years. Did lose the money be of that same very same finger because of a crush injury.
The end tissue died so the end had to be amputated.
Right hand currently suffering with torn tendons in my little finger and index that won’t knit back requiring surgery to fix them.
Not injured them for a while now. Fingers crossed hey lol.
TVRBRZ said:
Trying to drag myself out of long covid, and facing early retirement as a result, I've reflected back on the ways my own body has sabotaged my career(s) - always at a point when they were about to become or were really successful.
Has anyone else been inflicted with physical ailments (not Mental Health), whilst achieving? It is almost like the mind is willing but the flesh is weak....
Early twenties, Army, doing well, top third, penultimate exercise at Sandhurst, pneumonia, medical discharge.
Early thirties after 10 years of going from bottom of the rung sales jobs to high end Banking IT sales, hit the 100% club and get a paid holiday to Hawaii. Intestinal complications leads to redundancy.
Retrain as a Commercial Pilot, focus on Safety, get a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety, get to 10 years with current organisation in a job and location that are perfect - Long Covid, early redundancy.
My own body evidently has a self destruct mechanism. Anyone else feel the same?
Thanks
Sorry but you sound like someone who gets themselves off the deck, dusts off and springs forward. A survivor, who excels when pushed down but also I bet you have an element of boredom, needing a new challenge. Has anyone else been inflicted with physical ailments (not Mental Health), whilst achieving? It is almost like the mind is willing but the flesh is weak....
Early twenties, Army, doing well, top third, penultimate exercise at Sandhurst, pneumonia, medical discharge.
Early thirties after 10 years of going from bottom of the rung sales jobs to high end Banking IT sales, hit the 100% club and get a paid holiday to Hawaii. Intestinal complications leads to redundancy.
Retrain as a Commercial Pilot, focus on Safety, get a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety, get to 10 years with current organisation in a job and location that are perfect - Long Covid, early redundancy.
My own body evidently has a self destruct mechanism. Anyone else feel the same?
Thanks
Without these health issues you'd never have exerienced those new careers? Or to such heights?
I'm on my third career. Just like the previous I max myself out, I'm passionate about the role I do.
Change is good.
Concentrate on recovery and I'd be interested to see what you did next.
Edit- Military career:
Both me and my brother were in the air cadets. Both wanted to be fast jet pilots, both rejected. Me due to migraines. He chose Army. I didn't want that route... he's now highly decorated.
Ironically my Grandad flew as a Air cadet in 1918 in Ypres etc. A Great Uncle flew in the air force in the 50s.
Always makes me wonder if it wasn't for my migraines what I could have done.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Saturday 2nd April 07:19
Could very well be the mind thinking all the blood, sweat and tears will directly translate into a fitter mind and body. I have been training for over twenty years and used to exercise at a very high intensity for pretty much all sessions. Strength and fitness were well balanced as these were my priorities. However, I frequently ran into joint and pain issues. Over the years, I have shifted my focus from high intensity to smart training. I now suffer much less from ailments, am heavier and leaner and carry more muscle mass.
I am not sure if the above are a result of the hard work I put in, but I surely don't need to work as hard now as I get older. Joints are in better health than ever!
I am not sure if the above are a result of the hard work I put in, but I surely don't need to work as hard now as I get older. Joints are in better health than ever!
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