How I Deal with Stress and Eczema

Due to my anxiety, I tend to make myself stressed more than I would normally be. It could be over something as small as doing the dishes or something as big as being able to afford an expensive gift for my friends’ birthday.

Stress induced eczema

Over the last couple of months, I’ve noticed that my stress has had an effect on my eczema and I often flare-up more because of it. My eczema tends to become more inflamed, it itches more, and I start getting small patches of eczema all over my body. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to stress less, for both my mental and physical health. One way I have been doing this is by addressing how I need to step back and relax when flaring.

Scrubbing away

The first thing I do for any flare-up is to shower. Using natural oatmeal soap on the areas that have flared feels amazing. I find that it’s best to wash my eczema right when it shows up. Avoiding it often makes it worse and increases my flare.
Taking a shower also helps me regroup my thoughts and relax. It’s where I do my best thinking. There’s something about the sound of the water and how it feels that is quite comforting to me. Afterward, I like to use my eczema balm on the spots that have flared. It helps calm down the itchiness and makes my eczema less red and rigid.

Chill day

For days when I’m extremely stressed and have a serious flare going on, I take a step back and make that day a chill day. I wear comfy pajamas or clothing, so I don’t bother my eczema with materials that may be uncomfortable or upset it. I make my bed as soft and comfy as possible. Then I lie down and spend the day watching my favorite TV show, Parks and Recreation. Sometimes I’ll read a book or play a video game to calm down, but that depends on my level of stress. Naps also help me calm down and refocus when I feel overly stressed. A nice long nap can feel refreshing. I also do my best to avoid social media when I’m stressed, depending on what social media site I go to, it can trigger unwanted emotions.

Unusual relaxation

One of my favorite things to do when I’m stressed is to go to Disneyland! I’m an annual pass holder and I’ve been going to the park since I was three years old. I know the park better than my own neighborhood. When I’m stressed, I like to go and just walk around the park, taking in the atmosphere. Tomorrowland is my favorite place to just sit and relax. I love the retro Sci-Fi feel of the land and when the lights turn on at night, it feels like I’m in a whole different world, a stress-free world. Sometimes meeting characters can take the stress away and a big hug from Chewbacca always brightens my day.

Those are just a few things I do to calm down when I’m stressed. Does stress trigger your eczema flare-ups?