Stress & Anxiety - How do you cope?

[propita]

I was asked that by a doctor. Evidently what I thought was "coping" (headaches, GERD, tendinitis, hypertension, even anal fissure) was actually "results of."

Evidently, I don't "cope" with stress. I just suffer from it.

 

[KimMH]

Two things that help me:

Walking/hiking. The combination of exercise and being outdoors helps.

Coloring. Dover Publications publishes some nice coloring books for adults. I like to use fine-tipped markers to do complicated geometric designs.

Oh, I'm going to change my answer. While I do tough it out the majority of the time, what does take the edge off is, well, ponies. It was My Little Pony that kept me from going down an even darker tunnel, and while the pain and pressure is still very high, I do manage to cope thanks to those sweet little pastel ponies.

It's not just the cartoon, it's the philosophy - I love them too!

Swimming, hugs from my nieces, sewing, exercise bike, anime, online shows, hot baths, excessive cleaning, screaming in my car, baking...

exercise and love - sound like winners! I also love to bake when I'm feeling cranky. The creative urge usually balances out my nerves.

Sometimes what you mostly need is love, and to be needed!

Faith was mentioned earlier, and I do believe the philosophy of Star Trek is highly conducive to life well lived, or at least to the best of one's ability!

 

[SB118_Laxyn]

I hide in my cave and do a ton of things that I enjoy. Be it killing mobs in a game, watching movies to either laugh or cry it out, listening to music loud enough to make my eardrums almost burst, write (be it a short story, poem, novel idea or roleplay mails), chat with a friend, model something in a 3d program, read a good book cuddled into my bed... i just do what I feel I need at this moment, something that I think will make me feel better.

While the advice to talk with someone is nice, sometimes you just don't want to talk. There is no "one right way" i think. Everyone handles his stress and anxiety different. Try out different things and if you found the things that work for you, do what you feel is your way.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Got to admit the stress finally got to me again. My muscles have tensed up and I've gotten migraine and tension headaches together! My solution, suggested by my father, is chiropractic adjustment followed by intense massage. What frustrates me is that I had to miss out on a substitute teaching gig this morning!!

 

[dub]

Sex.

 

[Bisz]

Star Trek taught me that when I was a 14 year old boy contemplating suicide:

"Something I seldom say to a customer, Jim. In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk."
--DR. MCCOY, Star Trek: The Original Series, "Balance of Terror"

You know, I have yet to see that episode. I've never seen TOS in its entirety, maybe I should.



I remember taking some personality test some time ago, and one of the questions was "how do you handle stress" with four or five possible answers, but they basically boiled down to:
1) Face the problem head on.
or
2) Ignore the problem.

I honestly do a mixture of both.

Keeping in mind Death of Rats' advice of breaking things down into smaller problems, sometimes I'll tackle my problems head on, but sometimes I feel like they are too much so I'll just ignore them and do something to take my mind off the problem, like watch some TV or go on said walks.

Now, of course if my problem is a severed thumb I'm not going delay that till later, but the general gist is you don't have to solve all your problems at once, or even believe that there will be a time when you've solved all your problems.

 

[BillJ]

Drugs. Lots of drugs.

 

[Amaris]

...

It's not just the cartoon, it's the philosophy - I love them too!
...

Exactly! I hope to attend a convention soon. Bronies like to hug. I'm all up for a lot of hugging.

Got to admit the stress finally got to me again. My muscles have tensed up and I've gotten migraine and tension headaches together! My solution, suggested by my father, is chiropractic adjustment followed by intense massage. What frustrates me is that I had to miss out on a substitute teaching gig this morning!!

Aw. [hugs]

Sex.

Well, yeah. I figure sex would solve a great deal of my stress and anxiety issues.

 

[Kenbushway]

Cooking and/or learning about cooking, especially classic french cuisine (regional dishes)

 

[rhubarbodendron]

Would cooking also help in cases of extreme stress and/or anxiety?
While I find cooking very relaxing, I just don't have the nerve for it when I am really deeply into a mess.
btw, if you're interested, I have a few cookie recipes from a French friend

Sex.

Frankly, I am surprised this reply didn't come sooner. According to a survey I read years ago this is the preferd method of stress release for males (at least in my country). The researchers blamed it on a inability to verbalize their feelings, caused mainly by the wrong education (you know, "boys don't cry", "you must be strong", "make me proud" and all that nonsense).
Personally, I am sceptical if it's really so simple but I have to admit that most men I knew (in the biblical sense) did indeed have difficulties to express their feelings in a non-physical way.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Sex.

Well, yeah. I figure sex would solve a great deal of my stress and anxiety issues.

If sex solves stress and anxiety issues, the lack of it must cause them. It's probably obvious how I know that.

Actually the thing that causes just as much stress and anxiety in my life is coffee. I am a complete coffee addict and I am always in withdrawal if I don't have a cup every hour or so. I couldn't even survive at work without free coffee in the break room...

 

[dub]

Sex.

Frankly, I am surprised this reply didn't come sooner.

Me too!

According to a survey I read years ago this is the preferd method of stress release for males (at least in my country). The researchers blamed it on a inability to verbalize their feelings, caused mainly by the wrong education (you know, "boys don't cry", "you must be strong", "make me proud" and all that nonsense).
Personally, I am sceptical if it's really so simple but I have to admit that most men I knew (in the biblical sense) did indeed have difficulties to express their feelings in a non-physical way.

Me feel...uh, me feel.......
ME MAN! YOU WOMAN! AGGGHHHH!!!
*bah chicka wow wow*

 

[Peach Wookiee]

On the sex thing, does self-pleasure count?

 

[KimMH]

Exactly! I hope to attend a convention soon. Bronies like to hug. I'm all up for a lot of hugging.

Does sound like a lot of fun. Hope you get to one soon! Meanwhile, here's a long distance one! {{{Hug}}}

Got some crummy news last night, cleaned the basement; I've been meaning to for a long time. Took out six bags of trash and recycling. I was tired but I felt better and now I've got a clean basement again. I cleaned the attic the last time I got bad news. I hate bad news but at lest there's a tiny silver lining in there somewhere.

 

[Melakon]

I'm on day 3 of trying vitamins for the next 2 months to see if it improves my energy and mood.

 

[Leviathan]

scotch.
Boobs!
BACON!

 

[Leviathan]

scotch.
Boobs!
BACON!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ The post so nice, he made it twice!

 

[auntiehill]

Three times, actually. He posted the exact same thing a few days ago in the "Wonderful Things in Life" thread.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

These are my stress relievers. Can't really recommend the unhealthy ones. But yeah.

Aight... my big one is using these herbal elixirs/syrups that they sell in my local health food store (brands include Bio-Essence International and Gaia). My personal favorites are the "Nerve Calm" and "Serenity" ones.

Basically they're mixes of Kava Kava Root and St. John's Wort. Kava is pretty strong and it's been banned in several countries. But the US sells it still. Some call it "nature's valium". Shouldn't use it too much though as their are health warnings such as liver damage. Just don't overdue it.

Anyway, I take the serums and mix them in a container filled with ice water, lemon juice, and ice. I shake it up and make a nerve-calming iced herbal tea. I have it a few nights a week and it helps me relax when I don't want to sleep or drink but I need something to relax me.

Besides my nerve calm stuff, I use these:
Getting a massage (feels amazing after!!)
Aromatherapy candles and in the bath
Daydreaming
Exercising for 30 mins or so
Herbal tea
Bingeing a favorite show on Netflix or a marathon on TV
A glass or two of red wine while laying in bed or couch
Iced coffee (hey, it makes me happy)
Writing poetry or fan fiction
Reading a good book!!!
Indulging in some fan fiction featuring my fave pairings
Eating something particularly yummy
Taking a mental health day from work
Going to dinner and movie alone and enjoying quiet solitude
Messaging a friend that makes me laugh
Browsing the internet for humorous things to put a smile on my face