Michael is 32. He’s stressed out.
Since diagnosis 15 months ago he has been on an emotional roller-coaster that has undermined his sleep, his lifestyle, his relationships, and now threatens his work.
His doctors reassure him that he is well and doesn’t need treatment yet. Yet he feels numb, anxious, angry, irritable and depressed. He tries to give himself ‘time out’

from his feelings with everything from sleeping pills, alcohol and cigarettes to Es, K, and coke. But this ‘medication’ is only making matters worse and he’s already received two verbal warnings at work. “All I want is to feel in control in my life again.”
A buildup of steam
Whenever we get a build-up of feelings we haven’t been able to express yet, we can feel pressured, anxious and out of control. We may find it difficult to concentrate or read, and become forgetful. As this backlog of emotions accumulates in our body we tighten our pelvic floor, diaphragm, ribcage, throat, and jaw muscles to try and hold onto these emotions - rather than losing it with the wrong person at the wrong time.
Without release, this emotional pressure will continue to build up steam in our body, and we may use food, cigarettes, alcohol - anything to try and keep a lid on it. We distract ourselves with work, videos, TV; but come bedtime the feelings start to surface, just as we are trying to relax, making

restful sleep a distant memory.