What helps you with stress?

[Vida Winter]

I have several things that are weighing heavily on me right now, with no easy solution to any. Most of them are likely to continue on for a long time. I would like to know what you do to relieve constant stress. For various reasons, all the usual things (prayer, exercise) are not working. It's almost as if I need to trick myself into being someone else for a while.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Yeah there have been things in my life that were so incredibly stressful and difficult for me to cope with that sometimes you just kinda have to go with it.  Just go with the fact you feel like crap and it might be ongoing for awhile.  Distraction helps for sure, but sometimes it's hard to be motivated enough to do something that would be distracting enough.

 

Then if you feel like this is interfering with functioning too much you might consider seeing a therapist or doctor for medication.

 

Time heals.  Really no matter how awful a situation feels it usually gets better.  Even if it doesn't really change much, you start to feel less and less stressed out about it. 

 

I'm one to try to be proactive about something.  Especially if it is bothering me.  Probably 90% of the time I manage to change some aspect of something making it better.  The hardest thing is when there is absolutely nothing at all you can do.  Coming to terms with that is not easy.  But with time it hurts less. 

[desertflower]

Well keep praying.  :)

 

I like to make a list.  Probably several.  A list of the things that are stressing me out.  A list of the things that I know I can accomplish.  Then narrowing it more down to a list of things that I can accomplish in a week.  Then perhaps something I can do for tomorrow or in the near future. 

 

Also, a list of things that I can't do by myself.  And seek friends/family to help. 

 

Talking to a friend. 

 

Taking the children to a park.  The older two run off and play; thus, leaving me with just one child to focus on. 

 

Also a funny show right before bed. 

 

I hope you find some relief soon. 

[freesia]

I am just coming out of such a period . Try to have time when you don't think about the stress at all. The Candlelight Yoga DVD helps me with this. Continue prayer and exercise. Also STRONG chamomile tea and diffusing plant therapy tranquil, baths, reading alone in my room, setting the timer and working through my to do list, cutting things out, priotitizing sleep, L-theanine are also things that help . I also try to remind myself of what is going well. As s pp said, mostly you have to ride it out.

[gardenmom5]

yoga.

dudeling has an anxiety disorder. he does very well with douglas labs ayr-ashwagandha (more concentrated than other brands) and pure encapsulations bacopa. they're synergistic together.

healthy diet

a very good quality b-complex.  stress uses b vitamins. I'm currently using emerald laboratories b-healthy.

[MEmama]

Keeping a routine.

Staying organized.

Keeping a clean, uncluttered home. My house has to be my sanctuary, so it's worth the effort to me.

Reaching out to friends, even if it's hard (especially when it's hard).

Eating well and exercising. We can't care for others, handle tough situations, or heal ourselves if we don't honor our own needs and health.

 

((hugs))

[TCB]

I don't have a proven method to share with you but thought I would tell you what my therapist suggested I try. I have a lot of stress in my life and one thing in particular that is very stressful for me and that I can do very little about because it would need the actions of another to really resolve. I am trying all the things I can to improve my general well-being like exercise, new interests etc. My therapist suggested I schedule 15 minutes into my day to think and pray, and I guess worry, about this particular issue, and then steer my brain away from it the rest of the day. This idea seems to be a good one. I am still working on getting into a routine with it. Maybe this would be useful in your situation. Sorry you are experiencing this.  :grouphug:

[aaplank]

Be extremely kind and gentle to yourself. Give yourself grace to not be functioning at 100%. Bow out of any commitments that are beyond basic survival mode. Create a space in your schedule for quiet, alone, non-busy time every week. Stay connected to closest friends and family.

Keep praying.

[happi duck]

I'm listening in...stress is ruling my life right now.

:(

[Rosie_0801]

B vitamins

Whinging

Gardening

Terry Pratchett novels (the witches are empowering. :p )

Dates (the edible kind) for serotonin

 

And knowing that I'll adjust to it. It seems not to matter how bad you feel, it will become your new normal. *sigh*

[Laura Corin]

Yoga

Walking

Mindfulness app (I use Calm, but I'm sure there are many that are fine).  I find it particularly useful at night if I can't sleep: half an hour and I'm able to go back to sleep again.

[Vida Winter]

Thanks for all the advice. The worst thing is not being able to sleep well. I will try some of the things suggested. We've been having awful weather - cold, wet, windy. When that passes I hope to enjoy being outdoors again.

[Tita Gidge]

I take an Emergen-C packet around lunchtime to replenish B vitamins.

 

I add 1/4 serving of Natural Calm to a cup of hot tea an hour before bedtime.  I add honey, a shot of whiskey, and a slice of lemon if I have it. I drink it on the couch and wind down to some tv, a book, or the internet - but no research, no email, nothing that will get me worked up (just stupid memes, "window" shopping, low-key forums.) No more chores or work are done at this point, it's my "wind down" time. I even leave the tea cup on the coffee table and deal with it in the morning so I don't walk into the kitchen to see what mess the kids left or dish towels that need washing.

 

I try to take a hot bath or shower before bed.

 

I listen to a sleep hypnosis CD when going to bed, which helps me relax. A lot of time my insomnia is not being able to wind down. There are some free ones in the app store but I'm still listening to the Hypnobabies Sleep CD I got a decade ago! 

 

And if the insomnia lasts more than two days, I try to follow the sun.  That is, when the sun goes down I avoid artificial light (in the form of tv, phone, computer).  It still takes another night or two for me to "re-set" but it really helps break the habit of missing my window of sleep - especially if I'm too stressed to wind down each night.

 

I'm sorry life is so stressful right now :grouphug: I hope you find a solution that works for you!

[Annie G]

When I suddenly found myself very stressed and overwhelmed, it was perfect weather and I hit the bike trail. After a few sessions I was able to  ride and think and sometimes cry, and then I realized that I was able to leave that stress on the trail and come home a less stressed person. That was great until winter arrived. Then I took up walking indoors at a gym and working out- I can plug my earbuds in and zone out. 

 

Dh needs to vent about his work day- he is seriously stressed and had a heart attack 10 years ago because of this stupid stressful job.  So I walk with him and listen to him vent and when we're done walking he leaves his work concerns behind. It's great- he's managing his stress and by telling me about it I can at least sort of realize what he faces every day. 

 

I hope you can find something that works for you.  It'll make all the difference.  :grouphug:

[KungFuPanda]

Sleep, and dance. A dance class is physical, but your mind can't really wander so it's an all-consuming thing that gives you a break from the rest of the world. TeA helps too ;-)

[lllll]

nm

Edited May 17, 2016 by _ ?^..

[Vida Winter]

I'm thinking of watching old episodes of M*A*S*H, lol. Some of them make me cry, but that's ok.

[Anne in CA]

I had a very stressful thing happen a few years ago and taking a boxing class twice a week was a real lifesaver. I pictured punching the person who had wronged me every time I hit the bag. I also really got buff, lol. I miss it a lot.

[sbgrace]

:grouphug: 

 

Focusing on sleep seems like it might help you the most? Mindfulness based cognitive approaches can really help with that, and with stress generally. If that type therapy isn't possible, there may be books or online material. I use melatonin for sleep sometimes too, and magnesium can help was well.

 

Talking to my best friend helps me a lot. Do you have a supportive person to hear you?

 

 

Sometimes you need medication to move through in the healthiest way possible.

[Liz CA]

Yoga / working out

Reading (nothing heavy but light, positive and entertaining - whatever that means for you)

Making sure you get enough sleep

Burning beeswax candles for a warm glow

Physical exercise like walking / jogging

Reading Proverbs and / or Psalms

Rewarding yourself with something small to look forward to every day. This can be as simple as a bowl of your favorite fruit, a cup of your fave tea, driving to a spot with a great view and having a "car picnic." Anything that relaxes you.

[Laura Corin]

Thanks for all the advice. The worst thing is not being able to sleep well. I will try some of the things suggested. We've been having awful weather - cold, wet, windy. When that passes I hope to enjoy being outdoors again.

 

What I do: before I go to bed, I set up a mindfulness session on my phone, with my headphones plugged in.  If I wake up, I go to the toilet, put on my headphones and set the session going, walk back to bed and go through it.  I normally pick a half-hour session.  At the end of that, I put my normal earplugs back in and find it easy to go to sleep.

 

Previously, I would have lain and worried, or got up for an hour before being able to get back to sleep.  It has made a big difference.

 

In case you are concerned, as you mentioned praying, the Calm app has no mention of any kind of spirituality: it's entirely focused (in the sessions I have used) on breath and relaxation.

[Melissa in Australia]

Gardening

Walking

Daydreaming (a long running saga about living in a different century)

[Melissa in Australia]

Gardening

Walking

Daydreaming (a long running saga about living in a different century)

[creekland]

Comedy/humor, both on TV/internet and in person.  Hubby and I know we can joke about pretty much anything - the stressful things can make the best material.  I also have a couple of good friends at school I can joke with in the same manner.

 

The Great Outdoors and/or traveling - even just taking different country roads to see spring beauty helps.

 

And I fall back on the knowledge that 100 years ago (or more), folks having the same thing go on would also have to "just deal with it."  If they could, I can.

 

The body does eventually adjust - usually just before it gets worse  :glare: .

 

The absolute worst thing for me is to sit around with nothing to do.  Staying mentally busy is almost a must.  Since being physically busy in certain ways can make it worse, I'm getting more addicted to a few (basic) computer games than I ever was, but it keeps the mind distracted during needed "down" times.

 

Nights can be atrocious.  I get up when I can't sleep and catch naps later if I'm tired.

[G5052]

Story of my life. I always seem on the precipice one way or another.

 

Work. Routine. Exercise. A good novel.

[Ottakee]

A good walk with a friend where I can vent and get support....and the occasion good Whap I might need to adjist my attitude. Walking in nature is even better.

[happi duck]

I am just coming out of such a period . Try to have time when you don't think about the stress at all. The Candlelight Yoga DVD helps me with this. Continue prayer and exercise. Also STRONG chamomile tea and diffusing plant therapy tranquil, baths, reading alone in my room, setting the timer and working through my to do list, cutting things out, priotitizing sleep, L-theanine are also things that help . I also try to remind myself of what is going well. As s pp said, mostly you have to ride it out.

Is the yoga DVD you mentioned by "Crunch"? I just want to make sure I found the right one on Amazon. Thanks!