How do you deal with stress??

[Gin&Dex]

I've just been thinking lately and wondering how you all deal with stress? I am one of those "type A" personalities, and I stress and worry over everything. I've been soooooo busy lately, and have had to neglect some things, and it has caused me enough stress to make an appointment to see a counselor next week. I just can't take anymore....

So how do you deal with it??? I've tried "just letting it go" and I can't... I've tried physical exercise, relaxation techniques, reading, DRINKING.... I just have lost the ability to handle the stress. My heart pounds and I feel like I'm on the verge of losing it, I'm snappy with people I care about, and I just feel miserable and out of control. And of course, that causes me more stress.....

Like I said, I have an appointment next week, but I'd like to hear how you all deal with stress. I need the advice!

[Dempseysmama]

...poorly. LOL. When I was younger reading is what "took me away" from everything. Then drinking and partying did. Now it is mostly Dempsey. He is my stress reliever. I know that sounds silly, but he is. Cleaning helps me ALOT too, and gardening.

I get stressed over everything. I get anxiety all the time and sometimes I don't even know what triggered it. The anxiety causes me to have breathing problems. I try to find breathing techniques to calm me down, but it is very very difficult.

I really hope my suggestions work, but I am kinda in the same boat. I hope you find what works for you! Sending HUGS!!

[Louise501]

I used to smoke, although that really increases your stress levels! I don't have so much stress in my life now as this year I purposely changed my life, I left my very stressful job, stopped smoking and many other changes for the better...including my puppies! I don't worry about things I can't change, only the things I can, that way of thinking came after a member of my family died and it totally put things into perspective. I now only do what I want to do and don't spend time doing things I don't want to. I'm not helping you in ways of dealing with stress am I? This is just what I did or found myself doing to rid myself of a lot of it.

[Gin&Dex]

Oh yeah, I forgot to add.... I smoke too, which I know "helps" a great deal... and I am also on medication for anxiety, which doesn't seem to be working lately.

But I too, stress and then wonder why or where it came from? I just can't get it figured out......

[rmcbrair]

Originally Posted by Gin&Dex

I've just been thinking lately and wondering how you all deal with stress? I am one of those "type A" personalities,

One word . . . Xanax.

Just kidding! Actually, I do take it sometimes at night (1/2 tab at nite about once a week), although I take a lot less than my physician prescribed (he prescribed 2 a day, and I said, "addict!"). I am a type-A personality like you, which is very difficult when the world around you just doesn't cooperate with your expectations! I've done alcohol too, but while alcohol is a depressant, it can also create further anxiety, the type-A's worst enemy! (If it works for you, one glass of red wine at bedtime can make you sleepy and is also a good antioxidant.) Baths are great, and so are books, but if your Boxer is anything like mine, baths are not so relaxing because they want to be in there with you! My best remedy is a really great book or movies - relaxing ones. I watch movies that I've seen before - if it's new, it's too interesting to go to sleep. If you watch TV, the commercials actually cause irritation, so it's important to watch something that will not get your attention. My anxiety/type-A movies are: Pride and Prejudice (A&E version), Sense & Sensibility, Shackleton, Little Women, Amadeus, Persuasion, Emma (gee, where did I get my Boxer's name?), Shadowlands, . . . I have a lot of quiet movies I watch to wind me down at night. It distracts me from what's going on inside my head. On the up side, being type-A means you're likely very intelligent - it's getting the brain to shut up at night that is the problem.

[elvis_baby]

Originally Posted by Dempseysmama

... I get stressed over everything. I get anxiety all the time and sometimes I don't even know what triggered it. !!

Same here! I get stressed real easy, i have routines and if they get broken or I dont have time to do things it really bothers me, I know it is stupid but I cant help it!

I dont show my stress and let it build up which is probably worse, and then I take it out on poor bf!

The best option for me is to read, it takes my mind away.

[lafsalot]

I have found that breathing exercises (great natural tranquilizer for the nervous system and quite easy to do); walking; and a phone call to a friend all help combat stress for me.

Cycling hormones can also cause a lot of sudden mood swings and anxiety in woman, so if you are prone to pms and/or are perimenopausal, sepia (a homeopathic medication that you can buy in any health store) works wonders.

Good luck and feel better soon.

[dharmadoodle]

Firstly I would just like to say that I have been an anxiety sufferer for 14yrs now.

Stress & anxiety are two different ball games.

Life will happen to us all, like it or not - And we all deal with life differently. The next time you are in a life situation eg. funeral, take a look around you & see how everyone responds to death in different ways.

We are all made the same way, so why do we respond differently? Why do some cope better?

The answer is all in the mind.

Anxiety is a mind game - Your body just reacts to what's happening in the mind. You can't breathe properly, your heart pounds, you feel faint, sick, scared & you don't know why.

Finding other ways to release stress & tension from you will reduce anxiety levels, because if you leave it, stress finds its own way out! (Not nice).

So back to the mind, & this is where we start. The power of positive thinking is an actual working gift that we hold inside of us. The funny thing is though, most of us don't know how to use it! So, go grab yourself some self-help books, they show you how to look at life from different angles & that's all, but that's a good start.

Your mind could do with some reprogramming, just like a computer, everynow & then you have to install updates.

Changing the way you think to change the way you feel sounds extremely simple, but putting it into practice is extremely hard. You should know by now not to underestimate the power of the mind.

Getting rid of anxiety means life changing ways, decisions, etc. And as most of us know, it's hard to change old ways, habits. The way we think is a very hard habit to break.

If your anxiety is that bad that it actually effects your daily life, then I would like to recommend any book, or tapes by Dr Claire Weekes. She hit upon anxiety & depression before WW11 when it wasn't as well known about. She really knew her stuff.

Any self-help guru will shed some new light for you. Don't be fooled by those that say, 'Oh they just want your money, they don't care, you only feel good for one day' etc. If you have a crappy daily life & some dude makes you feel happy for just one day, then as far as I'm concerned, it's worth every penny, and I don't even care if that guru cares about me or not!

I hope that you don't have serious anxiety in your life, any of you, coz I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy - It is a true nightmare.

I wish you all well. Never give up trying to find ways to make you smile everyday.

Karen Out.

[elbykitty]

How do I releive stress in me life, got rid of me BF. LOL. But seriously I was diagnosed with OCD 6 years ago. But I tended to be more on the side of obsessive thinking, I worried and obsessed about everything. I had at the minuim of 5 lists daily and I would not be able to sleep until I got everything on the list done. I was exhausting myself. I tried medications but they just made me numb and not myself. It has taken me years to get it under control. For me going to therapy and realizing what was causing all the obsessive thinking helped me better able to cope. One could say I grew up in nightmarish childhood and many times I had no control of my situation. My obsessive thinking and lists were my way of controling my enviroment as an adult. For me it was many things that helped therapy ,exercise, and affirmations. I know it sounds silly but affirmations worked really well for me. I had to change my internal dialog. Some of the examples of what I would repeat to myself were. I would tell myself that I can't control everything that it was up to the universe, fate, or god(what ever you believe in). I would tell myself that I was strong and able to handle anything bad or good. I kept telling myself these things throughout the day and had a special time right before sleep that I would repeat them. It was sort of like I was talking the talk and eventually if I said it enough I would walk the walk. I know it sounds silly but changing my internal dialog has really helped with my stress. I am glad that you are taking this seriously and seeing a therapist. I truly believe stress is a killer and can have serious consquences on you physically and by starting to deal with it you can improve not just your mental health but your physical health.
Elbykitty
Mom of Lilly and Oscar

[xenaprincess]

Hmmm...how do I handle stress?? By financing my psychiatrists home and SUV!! I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as you are. I crack at the slightest hint of trouble or friction lately...just overwhelmed with life in general! And it seems that things just don't happen in spurts anymore...it's always full throttle chaos and meltdowns! I hate how it makes me feel inside and there is nothing worse then when you are aware that your actions are hurting others (snappiness, isolated), but you just can't snap out of it! I've tried yoga and that was a joke! Clear my head??...ya right! I have to stop breathing for the wheels in my head to stop turning!!
When you figure it out...can you fill me in...lol! Frequent the boards here in BW...that's what I do to clear my head and have "me-time"!

[Gin&Dex]

Thanks you guys! It's nice to know I'm not alone in this battle, and have a place where I can come and talk.

The reasons I stress and worry don't really matter, but I do realize that it is a vicious circle.... it starts with one thing, then another, then another, and they are all connected somehow. Then I start to feel extremely overwhelmed (I know how ya feel Sharon), and things spiral down from there. And then I just shut down completely. I isolate myself... I won't even answer the phone, and I neglect daily "chores" at home. It's as if I just freeze and can't move. And I can't seem to break out of it.

So anyway, I realized that I am "ceasing to function" and I need some help. I'm doing the right thing, I know. So I'll probably end up paying for some shrink's home and SUV too! Honestly, I'm a little scared to get this process started (I guess they call that avoidance), but I know I have to do this.

Well, thanks for letting me vent. And thanks for all the advice.... I feel for all of us that have to deal with this. But we always have Boxerworld!!!

[LeahR]

Originally Posted by ****************

I found that if I actually have it in front of me and can see that I am accomplishing things by crossing them off the list I feel much better. I.

I second that!!! feeling and seeing accomplishments, no matter how small somehow make me feel better and less stressed about the things that didn't get done. I used to be a corporate accountant ( boring and stressful LOL) and took a seminar one time that encouraged a 15 minute appointment with your self at the beginning of your day. Even though I am not in that line of work anymore I still keep a "to do list", cross out what I got done and move what I didn't get done to the new day. I am a Type A too, a counselor I used to see had me purchase crayons and a coloring book and carry them in my breifcase..... When I got really stressed I'd color for a bit,,, may sound dumb but it worked wonders... I still keep a coloring book and crayons for the really stressful times.