How do you cope with stress? (page 2)

rocketman

I try doing things I enjoy doing - like reading, listening to music, taking a walk, playing sports, watching TV, surfing the Net.....whatever I can to relax and try to put things back in my control if at all possible.

Seven

Scully, Having friends or a therapist that allows me to vent definitely helps when circumstances in my life becomes too overwhelming. But after the crisis is over I realize that I had most of the answers all along. I just needed to turn off all the noise for a time and listen to myself think. Get away by yourself for some quiet time if it's only for an afternoon.

One thing I've learned and I'll pass it on to you-Be your own best friend. Love yourself and care and invest the same amount of time in yourself as you do to everyone else in your life. Be that best friend to Scully that you are to others. It's not being selfish-it's survival.

There is good stress and bad stress. I'm a stress puppy myself and thrive on the kind that's made me successful in business. The bad stress...family problems, illness, and trying to please everyone all the time will suck the joy right out of your life along with the coping skills you know you have.

I forgot one important thing. For gawd sake laugh!! Laugh and cry at the same time if you have to but take humor breaks often! Physical activity is a great stress buster whether its a few games of volleyball or jumping out of a plane. But I still find the most benefical activity is to put a few hours aside and sort out my own thoughts and meditate on the advice others share. You'll find the answers or a good direction to head in.

Best wishes Scully,

seven

shera

Well,I came here the other day and many people here helped me deal with my stress. Thanks again,I will never forget that.

"True friends" and having someone who will listen without judging you.

Well excerising is great for me,but I am guilty of not sticking to it...something I need to change in my life is taking better care of myself.That is one good stress buster.

Chocolate...yes...

And hugs...here scully..... (((((((((((scully)))))))))))

Had to add,take a break and try to relax as much as possible.

ashitaka

Alcohol or work (keeping busy)

Sometimes both at once.

I've given up pretending that people acutally care (besides my wife). I used to write-now, all of that seems a little useless. I prefer to be productive, and get some things done that I procrastinate doing, and sometimes I'll have a beer along with it. Seems to work well.

People say excercise is good, too, but I think they all own Gyms.

ash

shera

LOL,wish I owned a gym!

Sometimes a walk,getting in front of your tv with an excerising machine is all a person needs.

Now booze...just leads to other problems and that leads to more stress.sorrie,don't want to offend.I seen what booze can do to famlies.

Francois

Klonopin

FT

acsot

1. Writing in my journal.

2. Bubble bath, sipping a glass of Beaujolais and listening to classical guitar (Pepe Romero, Julian Bream or Segovia)

3. Reading "fluff" like mystery novels, or, depending on why I'm stressed, something along the lines of Scott Peck (Road Less Traveled or one of his other ones) or David Burns (Feeling Good)

4. Petting my cats

bikerchic

Years ago I learned the art of Visualization it really helps me to un-stress myself. It's easy to teach yourself, I did and later was very blessed to have a therapist who was training to do Visualization in her practice so she used me to practice on, it was so cool to learn it from a professionals point.

I have a book called Visualization for Change by, Patrick Fanning. I'll quote from page 157 on What to Expect:

"Stress is not a problem you can solve once and for all. When you first seriously try visualization and stress reduction techniques, you'll probably experience some success right away. You may even feel that your life is totally changed. But stress will be back. So time spent now mastering visualization for stress reduction will be well spent indeed. You'll need these skills all your life."

"The only real way to beat stress once and for all is to change your beliefs and your lifestyle: Stop obsessing about unfairness, failure, catastrophe, being perfect and so on. Change your job and relationships so that you no longer have punishing schedules and don't have to meet the demands of unreasonable people. Get off tabacco, alchohol, drugs, sugar, and so on to maximize your health."

"Unfortuately, few people have the ability or opportunity to make all these changes. They can't eliminate stress, so they have to cope with it. That's why stress-coping skills like visualization are so important."

"As circumstances and your visualization experiences change, you may have to create fresh new images of relaxation. You will periodically have to compose new affirmations that fit your changing beliefs and lifestyle."

Just while typing this I realized how profound this has been in my life. The most important indicator for me is the obsessing part, when I realize I'm obsessing it's time to do some visualization work, almost an automatic responce for me. I can't stress, (ha stress) enough how powerful this work is and how much peace it brought into my life. I will tell you that at the time I was seeing the therapist it was because of a stiuation in my life that made me suicidal. This was also during the time I was exiting the JW's. I learned to cope, learned new tools and it's been a life saver for me.

I hope you find a way to cope with your stress however you choose to do it, as long as it's healthy, legal and constructive that is. LOL I also hope I've helped as I think you got lots of really good advice from everyone who replied. Hugs to everyone, you guys are the greatest!

Katie

ashitaka

Get off tabacco, alchohol, drugs, sugar, and so on to maximize your health."

Whoopsie.

Stop obsessing about unfairness

For me, allowing myself to be pissed about the unfairness of everything helps a bit. Then, about ten minutes later, I feel better and I can move on.

ash

Charmed

Sometimes I take a walk with my dog. The quiet allows me to just think things through.

Go shopping and buy yourself something pretty.

Drive fast with the music blaring so loud that you can't think about anything other than the music and the lyrics.

I used to enjoy the chocolate when I was stressed, but now I'm trying to lose a few pounds.

How do you cope with stress?

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