Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!

[windwalker]

All of us have unique ways to cope with stress and since I just went thourgh a stressful period a lot of people told me about funny things hey did. One friend mentioned she sat in a corner with a blanket over her head, another said she concurred with the blanket and corner but added a bottle of wine. While still another took a pizza to bed and locked the door while she sat in bed and ate all alone.'

We all have stress from kids, spouses, work and sometimes people who go out of their way to make life miserable for you. So I thought it would make a fun and indformative thread to tell about how each of us coped with stressful times.

If the stressful situation goes on for a long time, like with fueding wife and daughter, I get into a new book series and try to get lost in the books and tune the world out. I have read Dean Koonts, Steven King, several good authors of good vampire and werewolf stories.

Wanna share some of your coping ideas and maybe some funny things you have done? Dealing with stress is part of staying healthy after all.

Curious Panda

 

[princessrunner]

Dave when DD14 was little and I was a new mommy, I used to give myself time outs. They were more effective then giving her one!!! I would shut myself in my room and tell her I was taking a time out and she could tell me when to come out.

Now, when I am stressed, I just go for a run...

 

[bubba73]

Since I have stress at both home and work, I use my time at the gym as my stress release. That is my "downtime". I also come here and talk to some of the most positive and uplifting people I know. Then, I will also just try to look past the stress portion and try to find humor in any situation that I can. Not always easy to do and sometimes, down right impossible but it helps me cope better.


Bryan

 

[SamSam]

Exercise does it for me, the more strenuous the better. It's amazing how much faster/longer I can walk when I'm upset.

 

[UTGuitarist27]

When I'm stressed out, I like to lock myself in my room by myself and just play guitar. I can usually hear the stress leaving by the music I'm playing. I might start out with hard rock like System of a Down or Deftones and it eventually evolves into something lighter like Billy Joel or Sublime. When I hear myself playing piano man, I can tell I'm not stressed out anymore. I wish I could say I exercise when I'm stressed, but thats not the case. I have to much lazy in me to relax by working out.

 

[surfermickey]

When I am stressed out, I tend to go to the beach with my ipod and tune out the world and enjoy nature. Besides looking at the snowbirds (those who come here to avoid the winter up north) will make anyone laugh. It makes me put things into perspective and move on. If that doesn't work I go for a really hard run to clear my brain and work out the problem. Sometimes I go until my legs physically can't go any farther, and I have to call my hubby to come and get me.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

It depends on what kind of stressed I am, if I have had a really bad day or someone as really peed me off then I will go for a hard run, I will put my ipod on so loud I cant think and run till I cant breathe anymore, by the time I get back I am usually to tired (and deaf!) to be mad anymore.

If I am just frustrated I either go for a drive by the water or take the dog to the doggy park, just getting away from the situation helps.

But if it is more of a long term thing (not like in the moment kinda rage), like someone is constantly irritating me or big work/school/visa problems that are completly overwhelming I hibernate to my room with a couple of series of whichever TV show I feel like (lately its Greys Anatomy!) and watch it until my brain turns to goop and I cant think about anything but what is going on in the show. then I have to ban myself from watch that tv show for a while (so I dont become addicted!) and by the time I come out of my TV trance things usually dont seem so bad

Whatever is the problem I just have to find a way to shut my brain off because it likes to over think and make problems bigger than they are

Its kinda wierd but its what I do

Kirsty

 

[laxdef69]

I yell.

A lot.

Loudly.

With lots of undisneylike words worked in.

Or else I wind up wimpering in the corner while curled up in the fetal position.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Or else I wind up wimpering in the corner while curled up in the fetal position.

Take wine with you into the corner....wimpering stops sooner.

I will generally try to get away for some 'me' time. Walk one of the nicer trails or go to a room, put on headphones and turn up the volume. If long term stress, I spend more and more time outdoors. The fresh air always makes me feel better.

Unless it's winter in Chicago which is it's own stress.

 

[Steffwalks]

Drive down a deserted (preferably dirt) road and roll down the window and scream! Cows don't really mind, and hardly ever call the police!

 

[Roxy]

When I am stressed I run no music. I love the sound of the outdoors. When I am angry at my hubby I go shopping.

 

[bunnyfoo]

If I'm home, I'll take a nap or play a video game. Sometimes I'll send a friend a venting e-mail If I'm at work, I'll go and take a walk.

Don't do what I did last weekend and kick things! Someone threw a pair of my favourite running socks into a clothing donation bag. I got really angry and kicked the closest thing which was a laundry basket - unfortunately there were a few books at the bottom and I ended up stubbing my toes pretty hard.

 

[wdw4us]

When I was in a bad mood, I would hide myself in my closet of a sewing space.

Truly, it was the size of a small walk in closet with bi-fold doors that would shut me in. I would hide in there and the kids knew better than to disturb me.

At times I can just sit and sew and concentrate on that so I'm not thinking of other things.

My cat will know when I'm not doing well and she'll come by and plop in my lap and purr. I have taken my blood pressure before and after the cat thing and it sure does go down when she's with me. I have 3 cats but Zig is the best at knowing when someone is down.

Years ago I was about as stressed as I could be. Mark took me to lunch and I could barely eat. He was so concerned about how I was doing, he offered to take me to Walmart to touch fabric. He knew it would help. I smiled and thanked him for the offer - just that small gesture was enough to cheer me up.

Stess comes and goes in our lives, dealing with it effectively is difficult. Sometimes a walk with an ipod screaming in your ear will help. One of the many nights that Mark has been ticked off about the government has really decreased our times. He takes off like a shot complaining about SOMETHING or some tax and off we go. Poor Miranda had a hard time keeping up with him. I guess his way is to walk, complain and then collapse. Hey whatever works!

I have said this before and I hope some of you can relate. I always think of the greater good. STOP, THINK, is it more important to be RIGHT or more important to work towards the greater good. When my kids were making incorrect decisions and all I wanted to do was scream, disown them and be so right with myself. Alienating them would only drive them away, they needed an open door and an understanding heart. While we might be right, we also must let them know that - for the greater good - we will always be there with an open door, arms and heart. I've had to suck down my pride often but in the end it was for the greater good. In the grand scheme of things, being right isn't always the best.

A car is coming, you have the green light, you proceed. Someone is running the red and will surely hit you. You are right, you have the green but for the greater good you stop and let the fool through. Being right all the time, isn't always for the best. Stop and think, then proceed.

denise

 

[windwalker]

Denise you are a Darlin. Yes, being right doesn't help the situation at all. Doing what is right is much better.

Liz, remind me to buy you a glass of wine in Canada when we have dinner.

I do enjoy the long training walks with the iPod cranked but the weather has sucked this year and I've been trapped on the tready instead.

Connie, ok I'll go out and chew out a cow, there are some about 50 yards from my back fence.

Happier Panda

 

[TEK224]

Ok, I'll chime in here, especially since I've been stressed at work and home lately.

Depending on the type of stress, I can go for the run or gym workout, like others have said. If it's really bad, I usually need to hit something
I try to get to the punching bag and work it over for 5-10 minutes. By then I'm a tired and sweaty, but I got the anger and frustration out, so I can then think better to try to resolve the issue.

If it's just stress from being super busy, minor annoyances, etc. I'll sit down and start a jigsaw puzzle. That just relaxes me so much and I can get absorbed for hours working on a puzzle.

Terri

 

[SideStitchWalker]

I'm fortunate enough to live in Orlando, so if I'm really stressed there's really only one solution, I go to Disney World. The Magic Kingdom after dark and Wishes - my ultimate happy place.

 

[Kira G.]

Great question!

A lot of what I do has been mentioned already - glass of wine, reading, a long walk. I'm sure exercise would actually help, but I find it hard to motivate myself to exercise when I am stressed. It's not an automatic response for me yet.

Two other things that haven't yet been mentioned - a nice, long really hot bath (accompanied by a good book), and knitting! Denise mentioned fabric and sewing - for me it's yarn and knitting that relaxes me. It forces me to slow down and pay attention, and really brings the blood pressure down.