I need some stress reduction methods please

I'm in serious need of any methods anybody knows for reducing stress. This can be spiritual, medication, meditative, excercises, hobbies, whatever I don't care. My mental state is gradually getting worse and I'm now having more bad times than good.

I keep having these episodes where I'm convinced I have cancer of some part or another even though there's no reason to believe so. I have intense nightmares every night, I wake up in the morning with anxiety. I can't stop thinking about suicide even though I have no desire to do it and I won't. It's not like I'm considering it, I just can't stop thinking about what an easy release it would be. I keep fighting with my brother (who has aspergers, that can get really stressful believe me), and last night I had a huge blowup and punched a hole in the wall and swore a blue streak at my whole family for no reason. Every day I think about using some very bad drugs that I know I shouldn't just so I can feel numb and escape. And I'm hurting myself more and more because it brings really effective (but brief) relief to physical pain, and distracts from the emotional.

I can't go on anti-depressants because they'd conflict with my pain meds and cause siezure, possibly even death. That's not what I need anyway because this isn't due to chemical imblance, I've just had too much shit on my plate for too long with no resolution.

So if anybody knows any stress reduction methods please let me know here, thanks.

Massage. Certain psychedelics at low doses could probably help if you saw a therapist on them. Running, which I think you already do. Healthy diet. Painting (paint how you are feeling).

Writing always helps. Buy a notebook, and find somewhere quiet and secluded outdoors to sit and think alone. Try somewhere by a lake, or in the woods on a nice trail, and just write what comes to you. Don't try to edit or make it perfect, just let it flow...even if you never read it again. Try to do this at least once every couple of weeks. I have always kept a journal, and I think it's enlightening to read back on how I was feeling and thinking in the last few years, and learn from it. Just try to have a postive outlook on everything. Hope it all works out for you:)

Take a short vacation by yourself somewhere. Even two days. You sound wound up. Relax, reflect, smoke.

In your nightmares, try and become lucid. Invoke lucid dreaming. Take control of your dreams. Find the solution to the problem your subconscious is conveying to you.

Hope this doesn't sound trite. It is meant to be simple.

Breathe in for a count of eight, while tightening your muscles and squeezing your face into the tip of your nose (not with your hands). Hold for eight and then release for eight.

Thanks for your suggestions everybody :) , I will definately take them to heart.

I haven't smoked any weed in the past month because it always made me feel terrible. But, if I keep it to only once a week it feels great again, I just didn't have the willpower to say "no" 6 days out of the week. But last night my mom's friend, being the nice lady that she is, saw how much stress I was under and surprised me with an a free ounce of shake. I thought that was pretty cool of her! I had some with my little brother last night and we totally chilled out after another big fight, and even this morning I woke up well rested and anxiety free.

Weed really is a wonderful substance, I just have to keep it to 1x a week maximum for it to stay that way. It'll be like my emergency freak-out fix when I need to decompress :). I definately feel that I can do it now that I've spent a month learning to live without it.


Anyway I'm sure none of you care about my blathering, but as BluntMasterBabe said it helps to write in a journal and this is kinda like that:jointsmile:. I feel much better, at least for now, and I think a once-a-week decompression will really help keep me sane.

Try to make new friends and try to get a girlfriend if you don't have one and go out and have fun. Or take a camping trip for a week or so, just get away for a while. I find that really helpful. Physical exercise and/or sex is also a great stress reliever!

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Originally Posted by Tree_Burner

Try to make new friends and try to get a girlfriend if you don't have one and go out and have fun. Or take a camping trip for a week or so, just get away for a while. I find that really helpful. Physical exercise and/or sex is also a great stress reliever!

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Good suggestions all, but I'm holding out for a girl that's not going to live in this town for another month. I'm also starting business school this thursday, so no camping trips. Thanks anyway.

I'm glad your Mom's friend was wise enough to pick up on what was going on. Now, I'm going to give you another reason to keep it to just on the weekends! This really applies since you're going back to school!

Findings of a longitudinal study of effects on IQ
Current and former marijuana use: preliminary findings of a longitudinal study of effects on IQ in young adults -- Fried et al. 166 (7): 887 -- Canadian Medical Association Journal

Granny:hippy:

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

I'm in serious need of any methods anybody knows for reducing stress. This can be spiritual, medication, meditative, excercises, hobbies, whatever I don't care. My mental state is gradually getting worse and I'm now having more bad times than good.

I keep having these episodes where I'm convinced I have cancer of some part or another even though there's no reason to believe so. I have intense nightmares every night, I wake up in the morning with anxiety. I can't stop thinking about suicide even though I have no desire to do it and I won't. It's not like I'm considering it, I just can't stop thinking about what an easy release it would be. I keep fighting with my brother (who has aspergers, that can get really stressful believe me), and last night I had a huge blowup and punched a hole in the wall and swore a blue streak at my whole family for no reason. Every day I think about using some very bad drugs that I know I shouldn't just so I can feel numb and escape. And I'm hurting myself more and more because it brings really effective (but brief) relief to physical pain, and distracts from the emotional.

I can't go on anti-depressants because they'd conflict with my pain meds and cause siezure, possibly even death. That's not what I need anyway because this isn't due to chemical imblance, I've just had too much shit on my plate for too long with no resolution.

So if anybody knows any stress reduction methods please let me know here, thanks.

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Greetings and salutations Gandalf The Grey! :)

I actually just read the 6 top ways to cure stress. I am pretty sure I remembered them correctly and here they are bud:

#1: WATCH A SCARY MOVIE
(This has something to do with repetition compulsion and a few psychological stress cures).

#2: BECOME A KING/QUEEN OF DENIAL
(In today's world, we are constantly encouraged to share our feelings. Well that is not always the best strategy; denial can be a terrific coping strategy with stress. [If the stressor is soemthing over which you have no control, don't worry about it]).

#3: GO TO EXTREMES
(Health experts routinely recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily to relieve stress).

#4: DO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
(When you're struck with a major stressor-a bad medical diagnosis, job loss, etc. looking at the big picture can immobilize you).

#5: PROMISE YOURSELF A LAUGH
(Laughter is a known stress reliever, so plan a "fun" time sometime throughout your day so you will have a good laugh).

#6: ROCK ON!
(Listen to your favorite ROCK music and do not fear to crank it up a little bit :thumbsup:, I don't think Justin Timberlake will have the strength to free the raging stress within you).

Well Gandalf, I hope this information helps. Remember that these are not made up, maybe it will work, strategies. These are proven ways to help CURE stress.

The different strategies have much more detail than what I wrote, but it is surely a good start for you my fellow toker.

Any other questions, and I will gladly do my best to assist.

Blunt Smoker, I apologize if this isn't the case, but why do I get the feeling you're trying to "fool" me into stressing myself more? I've taken psychology and some of those suggestions are the worst possible thing you can do for stress. Especially when you tout them as "guaranteed CURES for stress!"

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Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey

Blunt Smoker, I apologize if this isn't the case, but why do I get the feeling you're trying to "fool" me into stressing myself more? I've taken psychology and some of those suggestions are the worst possible thing you can do for stress. Especially when you tout them as "guaranteed CURES for stress!"

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Gandalf, I kid you not man. I read it straight out of a legit magazine my girlfriend showed me (since I'm an attraction of stress myself).

But no, I am not trying to "fool" you at all, these are real strategies used to cure stress.

Also, I wouldn't go through the trouble to type all that info. out just to pull a prank.

...you're welcome.

lol sorry man my bad, I just forgot about this thread after I got some weed, learned a new meditation technique, and overal felt a lot better. I wasn't ignoring your response I just hadn't read it. Anyway I'll have to respectively disagree with the magazine's "sweat the small stuff" and "Go into denial", but I totally agree with hard rock and scary movie theories. In fact I usually combine the two and listen to some Dimmu Borgir or Arch Enemy when I'm stressed; black metal and death metal work well, you should try it out some time if that's your thing.

Anyway your advice is appreciated particularily 'cause I hadn't considered watching scary movies. So thanks for the post:thumbsup:

lol No problem. Yeah I understand how the techniques are portrayed as less of a cure and more of a stressor, but it must work somehow lol. Oh well.

I would say that yoga is definitely worth a try. It works pretty darn well for me. Kundalini yoga on weekdays + cannabis on weekends is an effective combo IMHO for stress relief.

Kundalini yoga offers very effective relaxation/meditation methods that are time proven and that you can use in any situation. The only catch is that you really have to get in to it so that it will work: Daily practice is a must; it will take two or three weeks until you really start to see results. Alternate with some other more intense physical activity (Astanga Yoga or walking/running) and most of life's daily troubles and hassles will get their volume turned down quite a bit.

I got a cure. When your pissed off drink some tea or something or go to youtube and watch Mitch Hedberg videos hes really funny and if you get high often you can often relate to his jokes about drugs. Quite comical.