allergies...

My eyes are telling me it is spring.
Not because I see the green grass, unfurling baby tree leaves, or the blooming flowers but precisely because I cannot see these things because my eyes are swollen, itchy, and watering. Yep, it’s spring alright.

I always forget I have spring allergies until I’m rubbing my eyes wondering why they’re so itchy. This is not a psychosomatic condition; it’s because the planet is “going green”.

I wonder what other allergies I have – reactions to situations that are instinctual and not under my control. Is there such a thing as emotional and mental allergies? When we get into a particular situation and respond without conscious thought? Can we have allergies to a person, a group dynamic, or an environment?

And if so, is there an antihistamine that can be taken?

I love being able to take an antihistamine and then being able to focus my eyes but I find that the medication makes me less able to focus my mind and attention as it makes me really groggy. So during this time of year I’m usually trying to figure out which is the lesser of the two evils!

It’s an interesting thought isn’t it? Do we have emotional allergies?

I think I’m allergic to older women in the Dollar Store looking at cards. I see them and they make me tear up because my mom loved to send out cards and once she discovered she could get 2 for $1…! Mom had broken her hip and after she’d had enough rehab to come home she still couldn’t drive so I’d go over and we’d run errands and it seemed that every week we went to Jewel for groceries and the Dollar Store for cards. There was always someone she wanted to get a card for; for a grandkid who gotten a good score on a test, the pastor at church to encourage him, or for her friend who wasn’t feeling well. And not any card would do, oh no! We read them all looking for the perfect one and then she’d be sure to underline and double underline all the important words when she sent it.

I have allergies to some people. When I’m near them I can almost feel the hives breaking out! A learned response no doubt … but troublesome nonetheless, is there “medication” for that?

What do you think? Is there such a thing as “allergies”; people or situations that just draw out a response from you? There’s more I think to this concept; like this is just the tip of the iceberg but I’m not sure what those answers are now beyond an interesting line of thinking – what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!