When Stress Meets Trigeminal Neuralgia
Yesterday, I barely got out of bed. The pain was that bad.
People think moving is just about packing boxes, finding a new place, and changing your address. But when you have trigeminal neuralgia, every single layer of stress gets amplified. It’s not just “I’m tired” — it’s “my nerves feel like they’re on fire, my face is pulsing, and every small movement sends lightning bolts through my head.”
Moving across the country with this condition was like trying to carry a glass vase through a hurricane. I had to keep it together just enough to get here — and now that the adrenaline is wearing off, my body is cashing the check I wrote weeks ago.
For me, stress isn’t just an emotional burden. It’s a physical trigger. It tightens every muscle, sends my pain signals into overdrive, and leaves me with no choice but to shut down for the day. And that’s exactly what happened yesterday — I went to my morning meeting, came home, and surrendered to the fact that my body was in charge.
I used to fight these days. I’d push through, guilt myself for “being lazy,” and end up making the flare worse. Now, I try to listen. Resting when I need to isn’t giving up — it’s how I make sure I can get back up tomorrow.
If you’ve never lived with trigeminal neuralgia, it’s hard to explain the kind of pain it brings. The nickname “suicide disease” is not an exaggeration — and stress can be one of its worst triggers. That’s why this move, as exciting and necessary as it was, has been a double-edged sword. I’m here in a new place, building a better life, but I’m also learning that even good change comes with a price my body will make me pay.
Today, I’m walking gently. I’m drinking water, stretching, and keeping the noise in my head as quiet as possible. Because I know that in this new chapter, taking care of myself isn’t optional — it’s the only way I get to actually enjoy the freedom I came here for.
With Love,
Elfy & Nicky
