Headaches and fingernails

Humans are weird. Our bodies do all sorts of crazy things when we're tired, stressed, overwhelmed, whatever. We get sick, our digestive system goes haywire, our hair falls out, we gain/lose weight, etc. 

Sometimes we know what's causing these ailments and sometimes we're in denial. We think we're sick but really it's our bodies telling us something else. 

I think I'm having one of those moments in life where my body is telling me what I don't want to admit. 

It began with me chewing my fingernails. I used to do it, then I quit for years, and now it's like I can't freaking stop. I hate it. It's gross. More recently though, headaches have been added to my list. Back in my younger, more stressful life days, I got headaches every single day. I always carried some Excedrin with me. It's been years since I had a regular headache that followed me around like a headache cloud over my head, but now it's returned. 

I'm stressing. Hugely. I want to pretend I'm not and everything's super, but these tension headaches and fingernails are telling me that I can no longer deny it. 

We're 2.5 months away from Dale's deployment. He received his orders. Training is in the works. Unless something drastic happens, he's going to Afghanistan. 

We're going to be okay. Everything will be different, but we can handle it. I've done the whole not-so-single mom thing plenty of times. Dale's been away plenty of times. However, this is our first overseas separation, and I don't know what to expect really. 

Sure I can hear from others and read the stories, but everyone is different and every deployment is different. I don't know what his schedule will be like. I don't know the best way we'll have to communicate. I don't know if we'll talk everyday, week, month, whatever. 

I think it's the unknowns that are causing me to stress. I'm a controlling type. I like to keep my life and things in a neat little bubble. However, the U.S. Army says "I'll pop your bubble, Gail!" 

Oh well. My only choice is to remain positive and go with it. I guess I also better purchase some Excedrin in bulk next time I head to Sams Club. I have a feeling these headaches aren't going anywhere for about, 11.5 months or so.