Ways to De-stress

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

OK, so it's definitely been a stressful semester. I guess everything has piled up on me. I've been sick for about a month and a half, had dental work done, got in a car accident yesterday (and the car battery happened to die about the same time!) and have been having heart palpitations since the weekend (due to anxiety according to various non-professional opinions). Tip of the iceberg!!

I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I get up every day and go to work (except Monday, I went to the doctor). I know it will all pass. I'm driving a cute little Camry while my Rav is in the shop. I'm up to date on most medical issues as a result of recent doctor visits. It's not all that horrible, just a lot to take in.

Well, I teach, so I will be out for Christmas in a couple days. DS will be with both sets of grandparents quite a bit throughout the break (his out of town grandparents would keep him the entire two weeks!). I'll be helping out some friends with babysitting, but other than that I'm pretty much free to relax over the break.

Sooooo, what is your favorite way to decompress? I'm thinking of heading to Dallas after Christmas to Bliss for a facial. I think massages are really painful, but my shoulders and neck are so tense that it almost seems like a good idea. What do you do?? Free, expensive, silly, lame, whatever...

 

[Christine]

Well, I eat and try to watch funny shows...

But seriously, if you are stressed to the point of heart palps, you need to exercise (this coming from a couch potato). You have a lot of adrenaline and cortisol in your body which is giving you the physical symptoms (heart palps, tense muscles). A 30 minute walk helps to decrease those chemicals in your body. It might not feel fun or relaxing, but physically it's the best thing you can do.

Signed,
A Person Who Needs to Take Her Own Advice But Doesn't

 

[AshleyW]

Well, I eat and try to watch funny shows...

But seriously, if you are stressed to the point of heart palps, you need to exercise (this coming from a couch potato). You have a lot of adrenaline and cortisol in your body which is giving you the physical symptoms (heart palps, tense muscles). A 30 minute walk helps to decrease those chemicals in your body. It might not feel fun or relaxing, but physically it's the best thing you can do.

Signed,
A Person Who Needs to Take Her Own Advice But Doesn't

Agreed! When I get stressed, I always go for a 30 minute run and then come home and take a nice hot shower with some pretty-smelling body wash. Between the run and the aromatherapy, I always feel great afterward.

 

[PatriciaH]

Yoga with some meditation at the end. See if they have BodyFlow (Les Mills) at your local gym. I swear it got me through this last crappy year!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I didn't even think of that! With being sick and all the other things that keep us busy during the holidays, I haven't been able to exercise regularly. Will definitely do that!!

 

[purpletiger]

OK, so it's definitely been a stressful semester. I guess everything has piled up on me. I've been sick for about a month and a half, had dental work done, got in a car accident yesterday (and the car battery happened to die about the same time!) and have been having heart palpitations since the weekend (due to anxiety according to various non-professional opinions). Tip of the iceberg!!

I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I get up every day and go to work (except Monday, I went to the doctor). I know it will all pass. I'm driving a cute little Camry while my Rav is in the shop. I'm up to date on most medical issues as a result of recent doctor visits. It's not all that horrible, just a lot to take in.

Well, I teach, so I will be out for Christmas in a couple days. DS will be with both sets of grandparents quite a bit throughout the break (his out of town grandparents would keep him the entire two weeks!). I'll be helping out some friends with babysitting, but other than that I'm pretty much free to relax over the break.

Sooooo, what is your favorite way to decompress? I'm thinking of heading to Dallas after Christmas to Bliss for a facial. I think massages are really painful, but my shoulders and neck are so tense that it almost seems like a good idea. What do you do?? Free, expensive, silly, lame, whatever...

Since you mentioned a facial and massage a place called massage envy http://www.massageenvy.com/ does both. They have locations in the DFW area.

When I was shopping at the mall last week, the guys in the middle of the mall that does massages for cheap, offered me a free 1 minute massage. I fell in love and will definitely be back. During that 1 minute of pure heaven on earth I zoned out completely and did not hear the hustle and bustle of the mall. Very relaxing and then tackled all the crazies there. LOL. If you want a quick relief I highly suggested it. I will be going back.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Since you mentioned a facial and massage a place called massage envy http://www.massageenvy.com/ does both. They have locations in the DFW area.

When I was shopping at the mall last week, the guys in the middle of the mall that does massages for cheap, offered me a free 1 minute massage. I fell in love and will definitely be back. During that 1 minute of pure heaven on earth I zoned out completely and did not hear the hustle and bustle of the mall. Very relaxing and then tackled all the crazies there. LOL. If you want a quick relief I highly suggested it. I will be going back.

I'm a Bliss girl all the way! Honestly, and I always thought people were putting me on, my face glows after a facial. Never can get the same to happen here. I actually live in central Oklahoma, so if I decide to torture myself with a massage laughing, I'll probably go local. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I always see those guys in the mall, but, like I said, I have massage phobia, so I've never even slowed down by them.