Ulcer Generating Habits

Ulcer Generating Habits

Personality

Type A

The theory describes a Type A individual as ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status conscious, can be sensitive, truthful, impatient, always try to help others, take on more than they can handle, want other people to get to the point, proactive, and obsessed with time management. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving "workaholics" who multi-task, push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and ambivalence.

Type B

The theory describes Type B individuals as a contrast to those with Type A personalities. People with Type B personality by definition generally live at a lower stress level and typically work steadily, enjoying achievement but not becoming stressed when they are not achieved. When faced with competition, they do not mind losing and either enjoy the game or back down. They may be creative and enjoy exploring ideas and concepts. They are often reflective, thinking about the outer and inner worlds. ~Wikipedia

I will have to admit that I fall into the category of Type A personality: Early in my twenties I took part in a management training program with one of the largest National Corporations of my chosen industry.  I completed the training successfully and went on to a nice career in mid management with the company, before parting ways to redirect my lifelong career.  During the early years and soon after management training, I noticed that I was being bothered by stomach problems without exception while eating or soon after eating.  I recognized the symptoms of ulcers, but was afraid to face the consequences.

I had achieved success in short order, and it always comes at a price; sometimes the family relationship is damaged, and sometimes the individual’s health suffers.  I knew that because I was working hard at covering all the basis, something had to give (most likely me).  Many factors came together to create the problem; work overload, social calendar over indulgence, and excessive coffee drinking at meetings to name a few factors.  Within a couple of years I had developed the symptoms of ulcers.

The pain was acute enough that I would avoid meals just because I knew that my stomach would hurt.  One day I was playing a round of golf with a friend that was just finishing medical school, and along the back nine I asked him if he could prescribe something to control ulcers.  His response was quick and matter-of-fact, “I’ve got just the thing for it.”  When we finished the round we stopped at the club house, and we had a drink (I had a glass of milk) to relax and discuss the game we had just finished.  I totally forgot to ask about the ulcer medicine.

As I was getting into my car I remembered, and quickly got out and caught up with him as he was getting ready to leave the parking lot.  I reminded him of the ulcer prescription, and he simply smiled and said, “If you have a problem that you can resolve, resolve it without worrying about it,”  “If you have a problem that is not in your control, and you can’t resolve it, don’t worry about, because all the worrying in the world won’t resolve it.”  I was disappointed because I was imagining a liquid that would take care of my stomach pain.  He mentioned that I was already doing the right thing by drinking milk, and eating bland foods, until my stomach healed.  I practiced that prescription for the rest of my life and to this day I don’t have ulcers.  The best is yet to come…..