An unspoken -- often unrecognized -- and painful aspect of MCS:
I've found that, within the 24-to-72-hour window after a significant chemical exposure, emotions can loom larger than usual. The chemicals seem to act directly on the brain.
I had three back-to-back, strong chemical exposures last week, paving the way for an unexpected, unnecessarily heightened sensitivity to something a friend had said.
When I began to detoxify, the matter looked and felt so small and manageable, even negligible. Before I'd begun to detoxify, however, I'd nearly wrecked a beautiful friendship by speaking my mind while "under the chemical cloud."
This pattern has occurred before. I realize now that I must postpone airing my thoughts on "emotionally noteworthy" matters until I've at least begun to detoxify from a strong chemical exposure. (At which point there may be nothing "emotionally noteworthy" to discuss.)
My friend responded forgivingly to my verbal mishap. This really made me cry. What a mess I'd made. My lovely friendship now has a scar which needs to heal, caused by my speaking out in haste, and definitely at the worst time.
To all those equally ravaged by MCS: Hang in there until the emotional "cloud" of the last chemical exposure passes. And feel better -- soon.
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