Can't Sit Still?

How many times do you find yourself fidgeting at a conference?

I recently attended the Dallas Fort Worth National Psoriasis Conference and noticed all the attendees were doing the same thing. Fidgeting! I know how I feel, and I try very hard to sit still. Trying not to disturb anyone I move my feet back and forth. Sometimes, I bounce my knee as if I had an invisible child that needs a “horsey” ride. I sit forward trying to relieve the tension on my tailbone. Then I sit back to give myself something to lean on. Don’t get me started on trying to sit on one butt cheek to let the other stop hurting for just a minute. I bet you know exactly what I am talking about.

Flakes cause fidgeting

My psoriasis tends to be a reason for fidgeting. That feeling of my skin flaking and itchy. I don’t know about you but sometimes the skin flakes that fall off can be just as itchy as your skin. I am sure you can relate, there is that little edge of skin still sticking to the lesion and you just got to scratch or rub it off! Now you're leaving evidence of your psoriasis. If no one knew you had an issue they do now. Have you already had the lovely event of sitting on a chair and leaving a trail of your DNA? Skin flakes cause me to itch and move about to let the flakes fall free.

Psoriatic arthritis will make me shifty!

The longer I sit still with my feet hanging the more my feet swell. I go to a conference with normal size 7 ½ woman’s feet and the longer I hang my feet the more chance I will be a woman’s size 8 ½ at the end. Swelling is a huge thing with my spine too. I have stenosis now and I can feel the swelling. I start getting numbness, tingling, and sharp pains. You know the type... the kind that interrupts whatever you are doing. Do you get hot patches? I do. Certain points of my skin lesions or areas of swelling will get hot to the touch. This will make me move around because I know that whatever part of my body has the warm area will be the point where the pain will be sure to follow.

Am I at a hypnotist?

My eyes will start to feel dry, sore, and sleepy! I will be sitting listening to the speaker and will notice I have to blink more. I will have dry eyes and want to shut them for a second to give them a break. Pretty soon I look like I am trying to speak in Morse code with my eyes blinking. I often wonder if the speaker thinks that I am playing games with them. You know what happens next then I reach up and rub my eyes. Yep, now I look like a child who needs a nap. How did I get to this point? I was just being educated by this awesome speaker. Now I am 4 years old and need my blanket and nap mat.

Needing breaks to stretch out

Just about the time I feel like I am losing my mind there is a saving moment of grace. A Break! Yes, I can stand up. I can slowly stretch. Nothing to fast. Don’t want to pop anything out of place. I can walk to the bathroom. Visit with folks near me and put some fresh cool water on my eyes. Ok, that worked. Hiding around the corner I do a couple of yoga stretches. I try to do some shoulder circles and a couple of squats. I feel like I am hiding from the rest of the “normal” world. There that’s better. Oh, look it’s time to go back into the meeting. I wonder how long this will last.

Trying to stay engaged during presentations

So here we are refreshed and starting a different topic. Finally, this subject is what I was waiting for. I have been wondering what’s coming up as far as research is concerned. My body feels good as soon as the speaker starts educating us. My interest in the topic is making sitting here easy. I am happy to hear all the latest information. My body is in check and we are all focused or so I thought. I wonder at this point if the poor keynote speaker thinks I am totally disengaged from the topic. Not this already, I feel myself having a hard time with my feet already. I am swinging them back and forth. Starting to feel ashamed that I can’t sit still. I think about the fact that I must look like my great nephews who are 4 and 5 years old. I look at my clock on my cell and realize that we are only a few minutes into the session. Should I get up and go out and stop embarrassing myself? When is there going to be a breakout session?

Getting a much needed break

Yes, these people understand me. They knew that I couldn’t handle the sitting much longer. I get to move about again. Oh, great other people are joining in. For a few minutes, my body seems to be in check again. The National Psoriasis Foundation knows my woes, but that got me thinking what if they didn’t?

Career choices and psoriatic arthritis

Employers have no idea we need these amazing moments to reset our bodies. Taking breaks is not just a part of their Labor Laws it’s a much-needed kindness to our bodies. I am lucky enough to be entering a career where I get to move about as much as I want because I am a chef. As a chef, I am constantly walking back and forth cooking and preparing foods. Expediting my food also allows me to move over to see how my food is delivered to the guest. Other folks may be sitting at a desk or standing long periods of time. If I have this much of an issue at an all-day conference could I survive a desk job?

Encourage your employer to be kind

I am hoping that you have a good relationship with your employer or maybe your union. I would suggest to them that maybe you offer to boost morale at work with some stretches or light yoga. Ask the boss if employees can try taking a short walk at lunch around the property. Explain you are better able to focus when you have an outlet. Changing the environment helps and the ability to have some movement makes things more tolerable for us patients. I have always had to have the ability to move about. In fact, in my lifetime I have chosen careers that have allowed movement. Don’t be afraid to talk to your employer. If you discuss breaks you could find that you found a new way to be kind to your body. If the boss says no then you spend time taking 5 minutes on your own even if it’s in the bathroom.  Just be kind to you.