STRATEGIES
Here are some suggestions for you that do not fall under the “treatment” category. These are simply some strategies I have learned over the years that you may find to be helpful.
- STRESS can trigger an episode. For some people, being late for something can induce stress. Back up everything by ten minutes. This means start getting dressed 10 minutes earlier, and everything else that follows. A therapist recommended this to me about ten years ago and it can really help. Arriving somewhere relaxed can lower your chances of a breakout. Sometimes it will happen anyway, but it’s good to give yourself at least a chance!
- TAKE A BREATH AND PUT HYPERHIDROSIS IN ITS PROPER PLACE: Again, this has to do with stress, but it’s more than that. Whether you are worried you will have an episode going into a situation, or you are in the midst of suffering one, take a moment alone and gather yourself. Remind yourself that this does not define who you are. You are not a freak, and other people are not “better” than you because you are sweating and they are not. In fact, the truth is that most other people usually don’t give it more than a passing thought if they do notice. Try not to make Hyperhidrosis bigger than it is. For me, HH used to have so much power. I gave it the power to control my life, every day, in decisions big and small: from what to wear to what career to choose, and everything in between. Yes, we do need to manage it– and that does mean being careful of what to wear, and it can mean avoiding some careers involving a lot of touching. But there will be times that people will discover your secret, and it is up to YOU to decide how you will react to that. Which brings us to the next suggestion–
- GO TO A THERAPIST! This should be a requirement, it really should. Maybe you are an amazingly resilient and self-confident person and sweating inappropriately and/or excessively has not bothered you in the slightest. But if you are more like the rest of us mere mortals, Hyperhidrosis has left its scars on your self-esteem, and it has affected the way you look at the world. For me, talking about “it”, hearing myself say out loud the things that had been swimming around in my head, put it into perspective. It took away some of the power I had given Hyperhidrosis. It helped me feel better about myself. Give it a try; if you have a good therapist, you won’t regret it.
- SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL: A dermatologist should be able to help you. I recommend that you have a frank discussion with anyone from whom you seek treatment. Find out if the doctor has experience in treating Primary Hyperhidrosis and has a “plan of action” in place for treating you. The doctor should have firsthand knowledge of any oral or topical medications that could be used, as well as experience in administering Iontophoresis, and experience in administering Botox injections if that course of action applies to you. Also, the dermatologist in question should be knowledgeable about the ETS procedure and its potential risks and benefits. Most importantly, does the doctor really empathize with how HH is impacting your life? I had the unfortunate experience of placing myself in the care of two different dermatologists who truly didn’t “get it”. Both of them trivialized the disorder and as a result I was not advised of my full range of options. I was left with the feeling that I was on my own with nowhere else to turn. There are dermatologists out there who do understand and empathize with what you are going through– keep looking until you find one!
- MEDITATION can be very helpful in putting things into perspective. Some claim that it can weaken HH. Perhaps it can, but that was not the case for me. However, it did help by teaching me how to put myself in a calmer state of mind. Before entering into a situation that I feared would induce sweating, I have meditated for a few minutes, finding my “center”. My hands would still be clammy, but the accompanying agitation and anxiety would be lessened.
- TRY HONESTY. I cannot believe my fingers just typed those words. This is one that I am still working on, believe it or not. Yes, I am openly talking about this subject on this website, and I have been very matter of fact about my experiences with Hyperhidrosis, on this website. Face to face, however, ‘fessing up is still a struggle. When acquaintances ask me what this website I’ve started is about, you should see me squirm. But here’s the good news: just about everyone I have told has been so nice about it! I think we need to give people more credit than we do, and I also think we should hold people to a higher standard. What I mean by that is if someone reacts negatively to your having a disorder that makes you sweat, do you really want to associate with someone who would react like that?? So if the situation allows, try honesty. It will diffuse your embarrassment, give the other person a chance to reassure you, and if the situation is a business one, you will have the opportunity to make it clear that you simply have a disorder, and it will not affect your professional performance. After momentary discomfort, the air can be cleared, and everyone (INCLUDING YOU) can move on. Besides, you really find out a lot about a person when you just tell them the truth.
Ways to explain it: One I have used in casual conversation is: “My body’s thermostat is out of whack and it makes me sweat at the oddest times”, or a varation on that. Another one is, “I have an unusual disorder called Hyperhidrosis. Have you heard of it? No? Well, I get overheated easily” or a variation on that. Emphasize that it is something your body does that you don’t control, and keep it casual. You’ll be surprised how accepting people are. Also, you’ll be shocked at how often the person responds that they know someone else who has it. One of the first people I told about this website is someone I have recently become friends with and I was DYING while telling her. Know what? She said, “Oh my gosh, I think I had that when I was in grade school and in high school too, under my arms. There’s a name for it??”
These are just some thoughts I wanted to share. I am certainly not a psychologist or therapist; just someone who has “lived it”!
Link to this page
