Take A Breath
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Take A Breath

A personal journey of stress.

13
Take A Breath
Great Sunset Wallpapers

Going through college, I was busy with college athletics and sometimes I would even have a job. I would never put my wants and needs first, I would just try and get through the day. Hour by hour, I would check off the list I created each day and complete the impossible. Eventually, time was limited and my social life took a toll, next my athletics, and before school could be compromised, I quit my job. Thankfully, I managed to keep my grades afloat and keep my dreams of becoming a nurse alive.

There were multiple days that I would wake up dreading the day I had ahead of me, or nights that I would stay up until 4 a.m. studying or completing homework. Things just kept piling up to the point where I had no control of my own life anymore. I had become a robot.

One fine day, my professors let us have a longer break than usual from the eight hours of class that was held in a room without any windows, might I add. With my time I would usually call my parents, or figure out practice times that worked with my schedule, or even try and get some homework in; however, this time was a little different. I looked at the list I had created for myself and felt my heart begin to race, and my stomach move up to my throat. This is a normal feeling of anxiety that I am used to, but the feeling did not go away. With four more hours of class remaining, I began to feel more and more anxious and could not even eat lunch.

Finally, as the minutes passed like hours, I made it through my school day, yet still had to make it to practice and through a strenuous workout. I remember having to start practice at 6:00 p.m. and getting home at 8:30 p.m. with a clinical rotation the next day, complete with assignments due, comprised of quizzes and a checkoff (a way for an instructor to test your skills to make sure you are able to give patients care).

At 11:00 p.m., I still had nothing in my system, not even water, and I was not even halfway through my homework. I knew I had to be up at 4:15 a.m. to leave with my clinical partners to a hospital. My anxiety then rose even more. I was not able to get anything done and I started getting pains in my stomach, with the urge to get sick (for me, this is a normal feeling). I rush to the bathroom and begin to dry heave, but unlike previous times, the dry heaving continued. I began to puke blood and have an increased pain in my stomach.

After this puking spell had passed, I laid on the floor in the bathroom and started to cry. This was the last straw. I had absolutely nothing left to give, I was ready to throw in the towel and leave everything that I had created for myself. After contacting my boyfriend and telling him what had happened, he told me something that I will never forget, "only worry about the things you can control."

This hit me pretty hard, not only did I need to get everything on my list done to my standards, but I needed everything to be perfect. From every workout, to anything I ate, to how I folded my laundry. However, this statement made me think about how no matter what I do, a patient cannot be controlled, much like the weather. This made me think of other parts of my life as well: my running, my teammates, my friends, my family, pets, etc. As awful as this experience was, I am so happy I learned how to prioritize my time on important things, such as school and the lives of others. Everything else, I would give my all, but I knew I could not always control everything.

There is no need for everything in life to be perfect. Life is like going for a run: it can be fast or slow, easy or hard, but with practice and consistency, you can improve. As in life, it will go by fast at moments, and slow in others; it may come easy, or it may be difficult, but if I work hard and become consistent there is no telling what I am capable of doing. To do everything to my full potential is my goal, but I must choose my battles and never forget to take a breath of fresh air and live.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55397
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35687
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957727
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

185572
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments