Hello Guys, been a long time since I last posted.
I've always heard stress is a weighty contributor when it comes to initiating the surfacing of psoriasis or an accelerator for worsening an already present condition. Though I have never read any report or clear researched examination as to how that is possible or whether it's true or not. At times I have heard some sufferer's accounts or read similar forum reports/blogs online where sufferers agree with the stress trigger, so I would like to know about the sufferer's condition and how it has changed while suffering from stress?
So what do you do for a living? Or what other factors in your experience have alarmed high stress levels? And most importantly how did it affect your condition, if it did at all? Some people may, as much as myself some 8 years ago, fall into depression which can also be in relation to stress and lack of confidence, either way, if this is something you experienced, was your condition affected?
Also if anyone has researched the stress related symptoms or have come across any credible source of material or source itself, please add some info. Thank u in adv.
During my regular Day job I’m an accountant. I work for my old man so I don’t find it particularly stressful and I don’t find my scalp P really effects my job at all.
I’m also in the Army Reserves, in the Artillery Corps as a Gun Number. At times I’ve found my P has affected my performance. It can be a bit of stressful at times. The good thing is my P can be easily concealed when I wear my hat and uniform.
I find if I do get stressed my P normally manifests itself around my knuckles. Usually they become a bit red and will become really dry with the skin cracking a bit. I find it can get a bit uncomfortable and itchy, but using moisturizer or washing my hands with Sorbolene cream normally fixes that up. Sometimes the stress will affect my scalp P, and make it more flaky and inflamed, but its normally pretty good if I’ve got my meds handy or can use Medicated shampoos daily.
That’s where it becomes a problem with my Reserve commitments. On parade nights or on weekend exercises its manageable, but anything longer then a few days, and my P can become uncomfortable and effect my confidence. When I applied for the Reserves I had to be referred to a specialist who cleared me with a mild case of P. It helped that I downplayed how often I would use my meds, but I neglected to mention showering or bathing plays a good part in controlling it.
Basic Training was probably the most stressful experience of my life. Even though I brought all my meds, and some medicated shampoo my P did play a little havoc with me. The main problem was the schedule. You work from 6am to 10pm for 28 days straight, working pretty much constantly throughout the day. Not only that but you’ve got 15mins to poop, shower, shave which doesn’t sound too bad until you realize you have to share the bathroom with about 40 other guys, which amounts to about 30-40 seconds of shower time. You could take longer but you didn't want to look like a greedy asshole when other people had to get in before time was up.
Quite frankly I didn’t have the time to properly apply my meds so I developed thick plaques on my scalp and I had to leave my shampoo with my luggage since I had no prescription for it. Also everyone had to get a number 2 haircut which pretty much put my red flaky scalp on display for all to see. I had a few NCO’s go “Yeech you’ve got some bad dandruff”, luckily not in front of other people though. I was stressed at not being able to properly use my meds, which made my P worsen which in turn was causing me to become a bit more stressed and depressed. It was almost like a vicious cycle.
Anyway I survived the experience, and pretty much the whole group bar a couple of assholes (one of whom I thought was a good friend) didn’t make light of my P so that helped maintain my sanity. Although it was still depressing every time I took my hat off and saw flakes come off my scalp.
I hate to admit it, but I believe now either I’m going to have to transfer to a non-combat job or just give up the Reserves completely, since I’m not handling the outdoor phase as well as I thought I could because of the P.
Other instances I've found where stress affects my P were during exams at uni. Pretty much like clockwork around exam time my knuckles would become affected. It became annoying particularly where I'd be doing a lot of writing for exam preparation.
