How the body reacts to stress when war is the stressor

An essay on pain, sadness and giving my body whateverl best I can

I think I need to breathe with my belly more. Intentionally. I’m stressed and my gut suffers the most. I take magnesium supplements and antidepressants every day but the stress persists. The war throws more and more coal into the bonfire of chronic anxiety. My gallbladder hurts. It means I’m not just stressed. I’m angry. I’m irritated, too. I drink too much coffee. I can’t rest. Painful tension grows strong and pulsates under my ribcage, from the centre to the right. That’s why I need to breathe more with my belly. I massage the spot sometimes. It helps to reduce spasms and relax muscles. I had this reaction since I was a child. The more I feel stressed, the more prominent the pain in my stomach becomes. It indicates that I need to rest, but it’s not always possible or easy to arrange.

I’ve been coming to this cafe every morning for many days. It’s a hidden gem, a Ukrainian-looking woman said in English to her foreign companion the other day while leaving this place. It’s that, I agree. The cafe is hidden in one of the yards of central Kyiv. A big walnut tree grows here and throws a big, uneven, full of holes shade at white summer tables. A stand with home plants stands by my side. The mood is introverted and calm…