It's hard when we are told to 'take care of ourselves' isn't it?
Realising this is happening is such an important first step Robin, especially that the symptoms stopped when you got away for a bit.
I hope you can find something that can help reduce the aching and help you eat better.
Start small maybe, something you can do for yourself even for just 10 minutes each day at some point, and you might be able to then increase to more than once or for a bit longer, or add more small things.
I feel these things are so personal, what might have relieved stress and allowed some recharging for me might seem awful for someone else. But if you can start with even something small you will own it.
I know for me it was like no matter how I seemed on the outside, how well I was coping, inside I was screaming non-stop.
The thing that got me over that was antidepressants, and the rest were strategies I developed to cope. The meds just took the edge off enough that I could put other strategies in place. Small things that might seem like nothing much to someone else, but to me were really important for keeping me balanced.
Mary I love it when kids step up and make a difference!
I always responded to stress by feeling sick to the stomach and losing weight, but as a CALS I gained weight too!