Corticosteroids (also known as glucocorticoids, cortisone or steroids) are synthetic (man-made) drugs designed to work like the body’s naturally occurring hormones produced by the adrenal glands, in particular cortisol. Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers that regulate most of the body’s functions. Cortisol helps regulate blood pressure and the immune system, and it is the body’s most potent anti-inflammatory hormone. Corticosteroids prescribed for autoimmune diseases are different from the anabolic steroids that weightlifters and other athletes sometimes take to increase strength.
Steroids can produce a variety of side effects. The most common are changes in appearance (acne, a round or moon-shaped face, weight gain due to increased appetite, and hair growth). Steroids can cause fluid retention and a redistribution of fat, leading to a swollen face and abdomen, but thin arms and legs. Also, the skin becomes more fragile and bruises easily. Steroids can suppress growth in children. Steroids can also cause irritability, agitation, excitability, insomnia, or depression. These changes in appearance and mood are more apparent with high doses of steroids.*
I can be stubborn, a little bitchy, short-tempered, hard-headed, and set in my ways. I am open-minded but can still be judgmental. In other words; I'm not perfect. Even after 42 years I'm still a work in progress. I've learned that the only way I can even attempt to improve myself is to accept my faults. In this quest for self improvement I am also a work in progress.
One of the reasons I am working on self-improvement is that I didn't like myself very much 3 or so years ago and I'm betting not many other people liked me either. I had a terrible anger problem; I lashed out at my family, friends, and co-workers. My job was on the line after one particularly horrible confrontation and I had to go thru anger management.
During the anger management class/course, I learned that prednisone(corticosteroids) along with anxiety mixed liberally with my personality made for a dangerous mix. I'm also a fixer, if there is a problem I am almost compelled to come up with a solution or fix. However I took it personal when my solution and/or advice wasn't followed and I wasn't shy about telling you about it. A couple of other things I realized early on were that I couldn't stop prednisone and I had to deal with my anxiety instead of ignoring it and hoping it would go away. I went to my PCP and got on anti anxiety medication, however medication alone wont solve the problem.
There were behaviors I needed to change:
- First and foremost MIND MY OWN BUSINESS: I felt I had to defend everyone who couldn't or wouldn't defend themselves
- Pick my battles; arguing every point is useless I had to learn to fight for things that made a difference and not fight for the sake of fighting
- Think before speaking; obviously this is the hardest thing for me to do still do this day.
- Try to get to the root of the anxiety; not being in control is a major factor in my anxiety. While growing up I had no control and apparently I was making up for it. Finally I learned that I can't control everything and most of the time I'm okay with that.
After I accepted that I couldn't put all the blame on Lupus or steroids, I began to feel better about myself. Since I no longer have the weight of the world on my shoulder I do feel better. I still come up with solutions to fix things but I don't always share them. If I'm asked for a fix; I no longer take it personal when my advice isn't used. However, I do reserve the right to say "I told you so"- see I told you I wasn't perfect.
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