Lounge: Give me your stress relief/relaxation/coping mechanisms:

[bicentennial_baby]

Not medical advice, etc...

After today, I am...stretched to my limit. Hehe, my limit keeps expanding. Seriously. Give me whatcha got. x(

:hi:

[BreweryYardRat]

1. Curl up in a cushy chair with hot chocolate and a good book.

That helps me quite a bit.

[bicentennial_baby]

3. My problem with that is that I can't sit still for that long...

Anxiety...ugh.

I'll try though. Thanks :)

[malta blue]

2. lately the only thing that remotely works is

:evilgrin: *wink**wink*

that and taking a walk by the lake with my dogs.

:loveya:

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I have no desire for the

*wink wink*, if you mean sex. I'm spent and on the edge. This sucks.

I miss my dog. My mom says he's still being a lil bastard garbage hound. I love him

:)

[malta blue]

12. I have no desire for the

*wink wink* either - but it does work sometimes.

Go visit your dog. Take him for a walk.

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Oh, I would were he not 100 miles away...

But my Momma promised to give him love from me when she got home today. :hug:

[KG]

4. maryjane and streaming internet pr0n?

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

7. 1) Dry until tomorrow, 2) No interest

My anxiety and stress is WAY too high to give a crap about that.

[KG]

9. heh. my stress level has never been too high for that.

:P

[flvegan]

6. Hit the gym, drink a beer, have sex.

That's the 1-2-3, baby.

You're welcome, sniffa.

[hellbound-liberal]

8. Jigsaw puzzles! I did a 3-D model of the Sears Tower over Spring Break

It was very relaxing!:hi:

[LynzM]

10. A few things to try....

Snag your camera, go for a walk or a run, and consciously look for beautiful or interesting things to take pictures of. Stop and take those pictures. Every time you find your mind wandering, go back to thinking about looking for beautiful or interesting things.

Have a cup of chamomile tea and call a good friend.

Treat yourself to a massage, if that's at all financially possible.

Likewise for an hour or two of live music of some sort, whether concert hall or jazz bar or coffee shop, close your eyes and try to get inside the music.

Other things that have helped me, but are pretty specific, are throwing pottery, yoga, and dance class. Each one forces me to use my body and my mind in a focused way that does not allow me to dwell on my stressors while I'm doing it. Climbing works pretty well for that, too. Likewise doing something like volunteer work someplace like a soup kitchen or HFH, unfortunately each of those things takes time. The first few I listed take little time but you might be able to get some of the same effect.

Wish I could drop by and chat and have tea with you! :hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

11. Wonderful suggestions...

:hug:

Thank you. And thank you for not suggesting sex. Jeebus people...

Yeah, I need to get centered and focus.

Love you :loveya:

[LynzM]

15. Yeah, I hear you on that one.

I think for some people, it really can be a great stress relief. And then there are those of us where if you're already stressed, it's just more stress. Hang in there, dude, hope things get easier soon! :hug:

[1gobluedem]

14. Hot tub

If there is a spa with a hot tub nearby, go for it. If not, hot bath with a good book and a glass of wine. Or even cuddling up with a heating pad, blanket, and good book.

I also think a long walk helps. And I find stress relief in working in my garden but that's a little tough right now -- too early in the season.

Whatever the remedy, I hope you find it.

[leeroysphitz]

16. I walk. I put my headphones on with my favorite music and I walk at night.

EVERY night. Whether I'm feeling particularly stressed that day or not.

I can reflect, think, zone out, or whatever I need and it keeps me on an even keel (mostly).
On bad days I'll burn up an hour - hour and a half no problem.

Good luck.

[fizzgig]

17. i try to spend a bit of time just focusing on my breathing

find a good pattern for you (i do seven in, hold for five, seven out, hold for five, etc.) and just sit and breath for a few minutes.

i also find it helpful to curl up with a brain candy book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate or soak in a hot bath for a bit.

i hope things ease up a bit for you :hi:

[UTUSN]

18. Uh, ............ beer ........?!1 n/t

[NMDemDist2]

19. I ask myself "What would I be doing right now if I wasn't insane?"

then I go do it. sometimes quite badly at first but try to keep pulling myself back to the task at hand

my suggestion to you? go cook something, chop something, beat something, knead something.

go cook something. from scratch. or clean a drawer, or go through your closet and throw stuff away

what would you be doing right now if you weren't insane??

:hug:

[bixente]

20. We're different people who have different experiences

so I hope anything that I'm about to say isn't insensitive to your current plight. As for when I'm suffering from considerable anxiety, it has helped to express my doubts rather than keeping them bottled up inside. But yeah, as I said... I'm probably not understanding very well how you're feeling. As another member said, hopefully you can find one post here that's worthwhile for you.

[Aristus]

21. Get into a comfy robe, warm up a snifter of brandy, and put on the CD

"Beethoven At Bedtime".

Oh...forgot: before all of that, nice long hot shower.

[BeachBaby]

22. Great sex followed by a great cigarette.

:hi:

If that's not available, a hot shower with the pulsating water pressure working on my neck and shoulders. A lavender/chamomile wash always helps, too.

Take care, sweetie. And don't forget to take a deep breath once in awhile. :hug: