How are you handling the stress?

[Praying Colonel]

Without violating forum rules, I practice my faith and try to focus on healthy habits: get enough sleep, drink enough water, eat somewhat healthy (OK, try not to totally junk out ), move my body. And I don't go looking for Covid news all the time. I'm far from perfect on any of these, but I try and I think it helps.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I think everyone is stressed. This is a miserable, stressful time. Every day since start of the year I've been keeping a gratitude journal. It's very simple that I write 3 simple basic things that I'm grateful for in my life. It doesn't have to be good health, safe family or world peace. It can be simple as the sun was shining, the internet works, or we had sandwiches instead of cooking dinner. I do this every day at the end of the day and that is heling settle my mind away from negative before bed.

Limit the news, open the curtains, go for walks responsibly in your neighborhood and above all know you can only control what you can control. You can control making meals, conversations in the house about certain topics, schedules and remember that children can pick up on our stress and fear and reflect it. Unfortunately stress levels will ratchet up soon as the numbers keep increasing. Find some projects and set goals every day of things you want to achieve. I've started doing very beginner yoga from you tube and that's making big difference. You can do this.

 

[tinkerhon]

Xanax - no joke
And meditation - ( when I get a break from homeschooling)

 

[pryncess527]

Gardening, exercise, dogs, frivolous television & French lessons on Duolingo

 

[Mom2Stitch]

DH and I are both continuing to go to work, that's very stressful to me. He works in construction, so outside and around very few people to start with, he says it's almost deserted now. Still he has to pump gas and be out, that worries me. I'm going into an office that has the means to allow us to work from home and has not done that and I don't expect they will. I get in the car, stop only for gas-glove to pump, and come straight home after.

I know I need to stop reading and watching news, but it's hard to do. Last night I finally had enough to push me to tears.


Sending a big virtual hug to everyone,

 

[wilbret]

Call me crazy, but I am just not stressed at all yet. I love working from home. Currently, we are blessed to have good health, and plenty of stuff for the kids to do. I think people need structure in their days, to normalize it. Get outside and breathe fresh air, and take a walk, if you can. I do feel for those that live in dense cities that make just getting outside impossible. And yes, I don't watch the news. I read the news to stay up to speed, but I just don't watch it.

We have made a huge donate pile by going room to room, so that seems productive. I've knocked out some chores. I've been able to be more available to my kids. And so on....

Hang in there!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Without violating forum rules, I practice my faith and try to focus on healthy habits: get enough sleep, drink enough water, eat somewhat healthy (OK, try not to totally junk out ), move my body. And I don't go looking for Covid news all the time. I'm far from perfect on any of these, but I try and I think it helps.

 

[tinkerhon]

Oh, forgot to add- Massive hours of " Animal Crossing" with the kids !

 

[Deploraboo]

Working. Sleeping. Posting. Investing (mostly badly). Praying,

Faith keeps me anxiety free. That and my wife’s amazing cooking.

 

[tazdev3225]

I am going to gain back the 20 lbs. I lost since the holidays. When stressed I eat chocolate. I'm not worried about me so much as I have stayed in except for essential errands - food and laundry. I have organized and reorganized my pictures. It has helped.

I check with my kids to see if they are doing ok. My son is a corrections officer so he is essential personnel. My one daughter was furloughed since she works in a casino and they are all shut down. She is getting paid for now however and her husband is in the food manufacturing industry so he is working 7 days a week. Since he cannot drive til June she has been taking him and picking him up from work so no public transportation at least.

My anxiety is over my husband being exposed from me as he has health issues and is high risk, but since I have limited all outside contact and was lucky enough to get 6 bottles of hand sanitizer I am good. My greatest fear and thus the chocolate consumption is my youngest. Her husband was furloughed til construction opens up again but he is getting unemployment so at least they have an income. My daughter is an ICU nurse. She has had several patients who were positive and minimal protection. One mask she needs for 2 COVID patients and that must last an entire shift. One plain mask for all other patients and that has to last til it falls apart and she gets to keep them both in the same little paper bag. She has asthma so is a higher risk as well as an autoimmune disorder. She is being exposed every time she works. If she brings it home my grandsons are exposed. The youngest is at a higher risk because he has 2 heart murmurs. I hope they don't run out of M & M's at the store.

I got through 35 years of my husband in law enforcement with the mantra "I can't control what I can't control". This is the same thing. I can control some things and I do, the rest is in the hands of a greater power. Whatever will be will be. I'll just eat chocolate.

 

[jo-jo]

We are retired and boring people , so staying home doesn't bother us a bit.

My DH reads the grocery stores ads.....oh such and such is on sale. Forget it, I 'm not taking a chance on germs and it probably won't be in stock anyway.

We have meds, we have food, we have hand sanitizer and wipes and TP, life is grand.


But if we were working, had three kids at home, and mortgage, car and school loan payment due, I'd be freaking.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Is there such a thing as Corona 10? Cause I find myself snacking more
I’m walking more and trying very hard Not to watch congress News. It disgusts me.

 

[superme80]

Just angry about the entire situation. Tired of staying home. Tired of being lectured for "not being a decent person" in wanting to stay home. Tired of my entire social media being taken over by this. Tired of my friends talking about it. Tired of not being able to take my kids to the park or anything that doesn't resemble my house. Just over this entire situation. If we had an actual end game and a date on when this stupid quarantine was over, I could deal better. Since it is "until we flatten the curve", I am going to continue to be bitter and angry about this I just need a date to when my life can go back to something that resembles normal

 

[Searc]

I've been feeling really anxious most mornings, but it gets better in the afternoons. Getting out and walking my dog helps. I haven't felt so much like crying in the past few days. I guess my post-Disney depression (without the actual trip - we were supposed to be arriving this past Saturday) has run its course.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I am going to gain back the 20 lbs. I lost since the holidays. When stressed I eat chocolate. I'm not worried about me so much as I have stayed in except for essential errands - food and laundry. I have organized and reorganized my pictures. It has helped.

I check with my kids to see if they are doing ok. My son is a corrections officer so he is essential personnel. My one daughter was furloughed since she works in a casino and they are all shut down. She is getting paid for now however and her husband is in the food manufacturing industry so he is working 7 days a week. Since he cannot drive til June she has been taking him and picking him up from work so no public transportation at least.

My anxiety is over my husband being exposed from me as he has health issues and is high risk, but since I have limited all outside contact and was lucky enough to get 6 bottles of hand sanitizer I am good. My greatest fear and thus the chocolate consumption is my youngest. Her husband was furloughed til construction opens up again but he is getting unemployment so at least they have an income. My daughter is an ICU nurse. She has had several patients who were positive and minimal protection. One mask she needs for 2 COVID patients and that must last an entire shift. One plain mask for all other patients and that has to last til it falls apart and she gets to keep them both in the same little paper bag. She has asthma so is a higher risk as well as an autoimmune disorder. She is being exposed every time she works. If she brings it home my grandsons are exposed. The youngest is at a higher risk because he has 2 heart murmurs. I hope they don't run out of M & M's at the store.

I got through 35 years of my husband in law enforcement with the mantra "I can't control what I can't control". This is the same thing. I can control some things and I do, the rest is in the hands of a greater power. Whatever will be will be. I'll just eat chocolate.

 

[Minnesota!]

Honestly, I haven't felt stressed yet.

 

[Searc]

Just angry about the entire situation. Tired of staying home. Tired of being lectured for "not being a decent person" in wanting to stay home. Tired of my entire social media being taken over by this. Tired of my friends talking about it. Tired of not being able to take my kids to the park or anything that doesn't resemble my house. Just over this entire situation. If we had an actual end game and a date on when this stupid quarantine was over, I could deal better. Since it is "until we flatten the curve", I am going to continue to be bitter and angry about this I just need a date to when my life can go back to something that resembles normal

Your kids can go outside and play or ride bikes. You aren't required to stay inside.

 

[fly girl]

Well, I'm the one who started the meme thread. I find those hysterical. I need to keep my sense of humor in all this or I would lose my marbles.

I limit how much of this I take in. You could literally go into this black hole of 24/7 Coronavirus news. I can't let myself. I am a person who likes background TV noise, but I am finding myself on TBS or TVLand watching old reruns if need be.

My kid is keeping me grounded. If I freak out and worry, she picks up on it. I don't want her to live like that. She really misses her friends, but she knows although this feels like it will be a long time, it will end eventually. I know we will get though this. Man it is not going to be fun, but we will.

 

[superme80]

Your kids can go outside and play or ride bikes. You aren't required to stay inside.

Oh they are outside every day. I can only stay on this property for so long. I just need to get back to some sort of normal life. I don't do well in the same spot for too long.

 

[TLSnell1981]

My kid is keeping me grounded. If I freak out and worry, she picks up on it. I don't want her to live like that. She really misses her friends, but she knows although this feels like it will be a long time, it will end eventually. I know we will get though this. Man it is not going to be fun, but we will.

My pre-K DGD had an ear infection so she hasn't felt like going to school or getting out. Today she was feeling MUCH better. She wants to go to school, shopping, wherever, ANYWHERE. I explained that a lot of people have been sick and I didn't want her feeling bad again. She wanted to know why. I said because some people don't wash their hands really good or do the vampire cough. She rolled her eyes and said, "Ugh, they are soooo silly". I'm glad she's satisfied with simple answers.