With clumsy hands, I hastily put together a note for my mother.
'I noted down, "There is something significantly amiss."'
I felt mentally hazy. My stomach was swollen. My heartbeat raced. Yet, I couldn’t fathom the reason.
For several weeks, indications were mounting that things weren't entirely normal for me. I was dealing with an ongoing headache which I dismissed lightly. stress , a lethargic sensation in my muscles, and an overwhelming fatigue that sleep failed to alleviate.
Still, I considered, if I committed even more strongly to ‘healthy’ habits if I continued doing the 'correct' things – improving myself sleep , eating nutritious food, exercising each day, and most importantly, maintaining hydration – I would improve my well-being.
I used to live by the principle that if a small amount was beneficial, then a large quantity would surely be even better. However, the more water I consumed, the poorer I felt.
Later, on a Monday evening in April 2025, I experienced an intense surge of queasiness and lightheadedness, akin to struggling through thick mud. The fear of passing out kept me from standing, which led me to urgently message my mother and dial 111 for help.
I had trouble speaking clearly and keeping my mind focused as I described my symptoms. I was told to go to the hospital right away.
In less than an hour, my mom had us both on our way, and though fear gripped me, what puzzled me most was why this was happening.
I didn’t drink alcohol I consistently consumed all my fruits and vegetables daily and regularly went to check-ups. Pilates lessons. And, naturally, I was easily devouring at least eight litres of water a day.
Why did I feel as though my body was grinding to a halt?
As the paramedic on duty stated, I was essentially drowning inside. In other words, I had water intoxication .
Is it possible to consume excess water?
Commonly referred to as water poisoning or hyponatremia, water intoxication occurs when an excess of water intake exceeds what your body requires.
This reduces the sodium levels in your bloodstream and may lead to a harmful chemical imbalance, causing your cells to expand, even those within your brain.
If left unaddressed, it may lead to confusion. seizures , comma, and in severe instances, death .
Even though I was lucky enough for it to be detected promptly and could return home that very evening, I couldn't shake off feelings of embarrassment, shame, and an odd sense of guilt.
I believed I was looking after myself, but in truth, by pursuing 'health' and well-being, I had driven my body to its limits. If I had been aware of this condition earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have increased my water consumption so much.
Still, I am not an exception.
Since the discussion constantly revolves around de dehydration - with the concern being that we’re not drinking enough — We seldom come across warnings about how excessive drinking can be equally dangerous.
What's truly frightening is the excessive promotion of overhydration seen online. influencers flaunt the number of liters they've consumed by midday, and large water bottles have turned into symbols of pride almost like badges.
I've come across 'water cult' pages that praise drinking as much as 10 liters per day for improved skin, energy, and digestion. However, in reality, ingesting such an amount can actually be lethal.
We require improved public communication, and influencers along with 'health experts' should be accountable for the advice they provide.
And those viral drinking challenges They need to halt. It's important for people to understand that quenching their thirst through drinking is sufficient, and exceeding that limit isn't a sign of toughness; rather, it poses risks.
More isn't always better. Our bodies function as a fragile, intricately balanced ecosystem. Even flooding it with something as benign as water can lead to potential, permanent harm.
Reflecting on my past behavior, I understand that I wasn't consuming water due to thirst; instead, I was doing so as a means of control and through routine. It felt like following every rule meticulously would lead me to happiness and well-being.
That way of thinking might have caused me to lose everything.
From what I've learned, true self-care doesn't involve blindly following fads. It's not about pushing yourself to extremes out of fear that you're not doing sufficiently enough.
It's all about truly listening—really paying attention—to what your body needs and having faith in it.
These days, I follow the advice of drinking eight glasses. That works well for me.
Would you like to share your story? Reach out via email for more details. jess.austin@.co.uk .
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