How do you cope with stress?

[LuckyG]

These past few days I've been finding it really hard to keep a cool head and a mellow attitude. It seems that nothing is going my way, I don't have any ambition, people are pissing me off (mostly unintentionally), and everything that could possibly destress me I have to wait for, including ganja. These past six months have been waiting, waiting, waiting, for all sorts of things, and I'm tired of it. This is definitely having an effect on my health - my back pain has flared up again, I get headaches, I can't digest food properly, and my rate of healing has slowed to a crawl.

The good news is, in a week and a half the waiting is done. The bad news is, it's still a week and a half away. What I want to know is, how do you guys cope with stress? Whether it's philosophy, or a habit, or a vitamin (I'm already on Vitamin B for depression, and it definitely helps with that) or even something silly like e-hugs or such, I'd love to get your input and maybe have these next few days to fly by.

Or maybe I just needed to vent a bit. I'm feeling a little bit better already.

LuckyG Reviewed by LuckyG on 08-01-2007. How do you cope with stress? These past few days I've been finding it really hard to keep a cool head and a mellow attitude. It seems that nothing is going my way, I don't have any ambition, people are pissing me off (mostly unintentionally), and everything that could possibly destress me I have to wait for, including ganja. These past six months have been waiting, waiting, waiting, for all sorts of things, and I'm tired of it. This is definitely having an effect on my health - my back pain has flared up again, I get Rating: 5

[thoughtwriter]

i've been the same way for about a year....i notice when i work out on the regular that i feel a little better.....and even though i LOVE junk food, creams and cheeses, and all that yummy stuff......it really puts me in a shit mood. When i 'clean' foods it helps TREMEDOUSLY. How do you sleep?

[Quinn The Eskimo]

Well there are a lot of things I do to manage my stress when it gets to be bad.
1. I wake up really early in the morning at like, around 4 and I leave the house wearing pretty light clothes (jeans and a sweat shirt). I take a long walk to the nearest park or anywhere with lots of trees and grass. Then I lay down and look up at the stars and watch the sky. When I am done (when the sun starts to just rise) I get up and jog in the fresh morning air.
2. I turn off all the light in my room and light incense and meditate for as long as my schedule allows.
3. Finding a distraction is good also, for me its reading (do something you like a lot that calms you down).
Also for me herbal tea helps, I like to make valerian root (tastes terrible but actually helps) or lemon balm tea. Also pick up some St. Johns Wort if you can, it helps me with anxiety a lot. There are lots of other herbs that can help you with stress and anxiety, just seek them out. Anyway best of luck with feeling better

[Grade A]

I like to weight train, run, or box to reduce stress... I find physical activity is the best way to clear my mind.

Loose fitting clothing is always another way. A recent study (I don't have the reference) suggested that tighter fitting clothes have a negative effect on stress because it restricts the body from breathing.

[Grade A]

2. I turn off all the light in my room and light incense and meditate for as long as my schedule allows.

That's a good one too.

[Grade A]

i've been the same way for about a year....i notice when i work out on the regular that i feel a little better.....and even though i LOVE junk food, creams and cheeses, and all that yummy stuff......it really puts me in a shit mood. When i 'clean' foods it helps TREMEDOUSLY. How do you sleep?

That's a good tip. :thumbsup:

A change in diet (especially to a healthy one) will have a drastic impact on your overall well-being. As does sleep.

[S.W.I.M. 504]

i dont wait for anything because i live in the present. i cut off whatever was bothering me and hide everything that will happen to me and chill in the present point in time im floating in.

i hope that made sense

[LuckyG]

i've been the same way for about a year....i notice when i work out on the regular that i feel a little better.....and even though i LOVE junk food, creams and cheeses, and all that yummy stuff......it really puts me in a shit mood. When i 'clean' foods it helps TREMEDOUSLY. How do you sleep?

I try to get at least seven hours of sleep a day, and when I do sleep I dream like crazy, which means that I'm in deep sleep mode, so no problems there.

Working out is one of those things I have to wait for, unfortunately. My job is very energy-intensive, and odd as it sounds I can't eat enough to sustain both my job and a steady workout regimen. My metabolism, which works kind of like a pencil sharpener, doesn't help in that regard.

The diet could very well be a part of it. I don't eat a lot of veggies, and the past two weeks haven't been very healthy as I had my tongue pierced and was stuck to mostly dairy, pasta and fruits, and not nearly as much protein as I'm used to eating. I lost an inch off my waistline - I didn't think that was even possible when you're as skinny as I am. Junk food has been minimal - I picked up some chips and cookies yesterday, but those are the first I've eaten in a month. I'm sure the healing process for the piercing is yet another drain on my limited energy.

[GraziLovesMary]

Breathing. Seriously.. we have become a shallow-breathing people, and that has a tremendous negative impact on our lives. Our lungs were made to be filled with oxygen, yet we only seem to use that when we are severely lacking in oxygen, i.e. out of breath.

Get a book on Tai Chi.. Physical excersize is the best thing you can do for yourself, and there is probably no better place to start and end than Tai Chi. The first thing you will learn is how important breathing is. Every time you think about it, take a deep breath. But start from the bottom... allow your abdomen to stick out as the bottom of your lungs expand, then, almost like a wave effect, as the lungs fill more with air, allow your chest to expand, and the stomach to go in to compensate. Breath out the same way in reverse, out from your chest first, sticking your stomach out again, then as all the air escapes your lungs, your stomach will contract again. Do this right now.. just close your eyes, sit up straight, relax, and just... brreeeaaaaaaattttthhhh.

Any time you notice yourself breathing shallow, begin consciously taking full breaths in just this manner. The goal is to make it habit so that every breath is taken like this.

I seriously recommend getting a book on Tai Chi. I went to the library and got "The Complete Idiots Guide to Tai Chi and QiGong." The author is phenomenal, and he will tell you everything you need to know to get started on your own. Good luck!

[GraziLovesMary]

I try to get at least seven hours of sleep a day, and when I do sleep I dream like crazy, which means that I'm in deep sleep mode, so no problems there.

Thats where you are wrong, my friend. Dreaming takes place in the REM stage of sleep, which is just before a deep sleep, and just after, before you wake.

It sounds to me like you dont get much deep sleep at all, which may very well be close to the root of your problem.