“Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy—and time…the more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you’ll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.” — Leigh Newman
What are you avoiding in an attempt to hide your excessive sweating condition? What are you avoiding so that you don’t have to feel ashamed or embarrassed by your hyperhidrosis? Hyperhidrosis is under-recognized and under-treated because people avoid talking about it to their families, friends, and health care providers. Stop the silence! You are not alone.
Begin to test just how far you can go in your daily life to experience people, places, and things that dry people can every day without so much as a second glance, a second thought, or a fleeting wipe of their palm on their clothing. As an excessive sweater, I constantly have to pre-analyze a situation prior to entering it. That’s okay, but it’s awfully tiring. I try to live outside of my comfort zone, though, and most of the time it’s worth it.
If I hadn’t endured these minute-and-a-half (or maybe longer) hells, I would never have known what I could accomplish despite my sweating:
Writing for the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS)
Meeting author Jeannette Walls and telling my HH story
Creating a sense of community for you, my fellow sweaters
Joining a tea committee and hosting a table at an event
Reviewing products because I’ve talked openly about sweating
Creating a sketchbook about hyperhidrosis
This is just a small list, but it helps keep things in perspective. I have hyperhidrosis, but I don’t have to be reduced by it. I’m not trying to be all, Hey, look at me and what I can do. That’s not my intention. But because I choose every day to step out on faith, I have quantifiable, memory-worthy events that I can look back on and be grateful for. I’m no longer hiding who I am. I can’t help that I was born with hyperhidrosis. I can, however, help love myself along my sweaty journey and offer you encouragement to do the same. I’ll even hold your hand if you want.
Copyright © 2012 My Life as a Puddle
