Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 478177

Shown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

Any tips on how to manage stress effectively? I always let it affect my body too much and my disease flares up. I end up keep thinking about the stressing event all the time, and it keeps getting worse.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by PM80 on March 31, 2005, at 15:54:21

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

I know this is probably such an over-used answer, but working out really helps me. It can be any kind of physical exertion. If you're not in stellar shape (like most people), go for a walk, walking as fast as you can without thinking of when you're going to be done. Don't think about all the little immediate things you need to do. Think about the big picture and the person you aspire to be. Listen to some music while you walk. Listen to something that is uplifting and encouraging. Sometimes I use girl-power songs, but really any that promote the positive side of energy are good. Get lost in that world. You'll know when you are finished. When you are done you will feel adequately able to handle the load that overwhelmed you before. This is my experience, anyway.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by Rigby on March 31, 2005, at 18:32:09

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

Hi Pinkeye,

I feel for you as I can get very anxious and stressed out too. I exercise alot--lots of swimming and running *but* I still can't exercise away my anxiety. What's helped is actually focusing on my breathing. And trying to do the "What's the worst thing that can happen?" type of thing too. Mostly though it seems as if it just passes like a bad storm. Having faith that it will pass might help too.

Also, I got The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook on Amazon and am just starting reading through that--it came highly recommended by Babblers here.

Rigby

> Any tips on how to manage stress effectively? I always let it affect my body too much and my disease flares up. I end up keep thinking about the stressing event all the time, and it keeps getting worse.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by Susan47 on March 31, 2005, at 18:45:42

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

I have a touch of fibromyalgia. The only thing that helps is me feeling secure and a hot bath in epsom salts, four cups to the tub ... I can't afford the fr*gging salts right now though and I've been in pain for a good six weeks or so. I feel for you, I really do. Do you have an arthritis centre where you live? Maybe you could use their hot pool.

 

cannot exercise

Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:04:08

Hi guys,
Thank you all for the suggestion.
Because of my arhtirits, I really cannot exercise or go for long walks. I do try to soak in hot tub, breathing, diverting the mind etc. And the stress that I am haivng right now is really big.. I have to take pretty major decisions and give up things which I have immense emotional attachment to..so that keeps coming back. little relaxations help a little, but not that much.

Plus I am extremely anxious about my health ... keep worrying that I will get this, get that etc.. almost like a panic.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:08:17

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

Hi guys,
Thank you all for the suggestion.
Because of my arhtirits, I really cannot exercise or go for long walks. I do try to soak in hot tub, breathing, diverting the mind etc. And the stress that I am haivng right now is really big.. I have to take pretty major decisions and give up things which I have immense emotional attachment to..so that keeps coming back. little relaxations help a little, but not that much.

Plus I am extremely anxious about my health ... keep worrying that I will get this, get that etc.. almost like a panic.

 

Re: cannot exercise

Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:08:38

In reply to cannot exercise, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:04:08

IT should have gone to the above thread. Wrongly posted here

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye

Posted by fallsfall on March 31, 2005, at 19:12:17

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:08:17

Can you do yoga? I find the gentle stretching and concentration helps me deal with stress.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » fallsfall

Posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:15:03

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye, posted by fallsfall on March 31, 2005, at 19:12:17

I really cannot do yoga also. All the postures are difficult on my joints and they hurt when I try to do sitting like they advise and stuff. . I try little bit of stretching, whatever I can do... but that is not too much.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by mair on March 31, 2005, at 21:39:12

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » fallsfall, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 19:15:03

I don't manage stress this way intentionally, but find a huge need to clean and reorganize when I'm stressed. I think I must feel that if one little piece of my life is in order, then other parts might fall into place. Plus it's pretty mindless.

The other thing I do which is more escapist than anything else is read - nothing heavy because I can't manage complex things when I'm depressed or overly stressed - I just don't have the concentration.

mair

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by sunny10 on April 1, 2005, at 8:45:24

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress?, posted by mair on March 31, 2005, at 21:39:12

I can't say that reading works to *alleviate* stress, but it does provide a rest to my stress-exhausted body when I simply cannot work it out at the time.

I suppose it's a type of "burying my feelings", which we all know is bad, but sometimes I am just not in the right frame of mind to be able to do any "healing work" on a particular issue. Logically I would tell you that I try to go back to all the things that I "temporarily bury", but to be honest, my overall sense of myself tells me that I must have missed working out quite a few feelings that I have buried.

If I didn't live in a twin (double, duplex, whatever you call them in your part of the world), I would just scream as loud as I could- as long as I could for a physical release...

I am considering buying a punching bag to keep in the basement...

-sunny10

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye

Posted by Tamar on April 1, 2005, at 11:42:59

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

I'm sorry you're in so much pain with your arthritis. I know it can make exercise difficult.

My father has severe arthritis and he did very little exercise for years, but recently he's been advised to do as much exercise as possible. He can't do much at all, but what little exercise he is able to do seems to be helping. He can walk about four times as far as he could two years ago (which still isn't terribly far, but it has made a real difference to his life).

I realise these things don't always apply to everyone, but maybe if you do whatever exercise you can do, it will help a little. I'm just trying to be encouraging; not telling you what to do!

I know you're facing a hard decision at the moment; I'll be thinking of you. I hope it starts to get easier for you soon.

Tamar

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » Tamar

Posted by pinkeye on April 1, 2005, at 13:17:44

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye, posted by Tamar on April 1, 2005, at 11:42:59

Thanks Tamar.

I wish I could keep my stress from not affecting my health and other things.

I do try to do relaxation exercises and stretching. That is all I can do at this point. I will keep on it.

Thanks for your support. I am little better today.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye

Posted by Dinah on April 1, 2005, at 13:55:12

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » Tamar, posted by pinkeye on April 1, 2005, at 13:17:44

I don't think we can will that connection away. Stress level is as intimately connected to body functions as what we eat or breathe.

My blood sugars are all over the place right now. I'm having such an incredibly hard time working. I fell asleep today and don't even remember doing it. Just woke up on my bed with no recollection of deciding to take a nap. No longer than half an hour, but still.

You won't be able to break the stress/body connection. So let's work on the stress. Both of us?

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » Dinah

Posted by pinkeye on April 1, 2005, at 14:48:01

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye, posted by Dinah on April 1, 2005, at 13:55:12

But stress is becoming unavoidable these days. So I don't want stress to keep affecting my body.

It would be good if I didn't even have any stress as such, but how is that possible?

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress?

Posted by Susan47 on April 1, 2005, at 20:42:52

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » Dinah, posted by pinkeye on April 1, 2005, at 14:48:01

I am so surprised that no one mentioned the obvious thing to feel better and relieve pain, to me anyway, massage. So many answers involving pressure to perform, do more, be more, are we all like that here? Did we all forget that others can be employed to help us, and maybe not even employed, but friends you know. Gee, Pinkeye, do you know anybody that could give you a lovely relaxing massage with hot towels? And lotions, creams, and oils. AND aromatherapy .. That's really the ticket...

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye

Posted by thewrite1 on April 2, 2005, at 10:19:39

In reply to What do you do for managing stress?, posted by pinkeye on March 31, 2005, at 13:41:31

I've been going through this situation that is extremely stressful. I talked to my T about it on Wed. and she gave me good input. She said for that day I shouldn't do ANYTHING that I didn't absolutely HAVE to do, to just do things that I WANT to do.

She also suggested a hobby. I have a 1 year old and don't have loads of time for hobbies. I almost blew off that suggestion, but I found something I can work on a little at a time. Every night after the little guy goes down, I work on it a little bit. I actually find that I look forward to that all through the day and it does help fend off the stress.

I am talking to my T twice a week now and she told me to call between if I need to. I haven't yet (not that I wouldn't), but it helps knowing I can call her any time.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » thewrite1

Posted by pinkeye on April 2, 2005, at 13:29:10

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye, posted by thewrite1 on April 2, 2005, at 10:19:39

I do have hobbies - I learn and listen to music, I read a lot, see almost all the new movies, I even play jigsaw puzzles, and scrabble etc, go to temples and prayers etc. And I work also.

But sometimes the stress is overwhelming.. Especially the phobias about returning back to my country and my health. I really don't know what else I should be trying. But the intense anxiety around these issues don't seem to go away. Even after years of therapy.

 

Re: What do you do for managing stress? » thewrite1

Posted by pinkeye on April 2, 2005, at 13:39:37

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress? » pinkeye, posted by thewrite1 on April 2, 2005, at 10:19:39

Actually I see your point now, about not doing anything for that day which I shouldn't be doing. I think that might help a lot. I tend to keep worrying about things in the future. Maybe I should just focus on today.
Thanks thewrite1. That definitely would help.

 

Redirect: massage

Posted by Dr. Bob on April 2, 2005, at 13:42:43

In reply to Re: What do you do for managing stress?, posted by Susan47 on April 1, 2005, at 20:42:52

> I am so surprised that no one mentioned the obvious thing to feel better and relieve pain, to me anyway, massage...

Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups not about psychology to Psycho-Babble Social. Here's a link:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050330/msgs/478966.html

Thanks,

Bob


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