Dealing with stress...?

How do you deal with stress? Honestly I feel like I'm about to explode, between my miserable job and an english professor who hasn't been showing up at classes and keeps telling me over the email that I'm not doing it right (but doesn't tell me what's wrong with it, aside from that it is wrong) and to refer to my manual (which doesnt have an entry for the issue).
I'm praying my boss doesnt call me at work today, if she says anything mean I might snap. I don't take baths and I don't drink and even if I'm doing something like reading or folding laundry I find myself gritting my teeth until I have a headache.
At least I'm a good whiner

I play with and cuddle my cats, for one.

But to really release the stress and get the endorphins flowing, get some exercise. Take a walk or go to the gym.

Hiking in the woods, especially, is soothing.

However doing it daily, you soon get into a routine with it, and you will find yourself much more at peace.

Personally? Zoloft.

Aside from that though, yes, my cats are a HUGE stress reliever, and truthfully, I find my fostering for the local shelter to be a big therapy for me as well.

I also exercise to relieve stress.
That being said hun, I hope that things get better for you.

I try to refocus my energy into doing something positive. Doens't always work though. Today is one of those days I am having problems refocusing. When that is the case, I try to think of really positive things. I try to think about how much I love my cat or my hubby. I try to be thankful for the positivity in my life. I try to think about all the good that is going on around me. I try to count all the blessings I have in my life, I try to remember the love I felt when my mom held me. I believe deep inside that one can refocus, but it takes a lot of work, and training your mind. It is NOT foolproof however, today I just can't seem to refocus.

I hope your stress lvl drops, I would be stressed in your circumstance as well. Good luck, and know that people out there care.

Be safe.

Ooooh, I am not very good at handling it. I usually am in a vile mood and unfortunately noone around is in for a good time when that happens

I need some tips too!

a punch bag or i paint my nails because it takes my mind off everything

i dunno how you are putting up with the teacher fobbing you off

Usually I am pretty good at handling stress, but right now my life is a big ball of stress mess! Maia definitely helps me relax, but right now I am having major problems dealing, I am constantly on the edge of tears.........To much at once, and I can't deal

So far as that English class goes, you seriously need to talk to the Dean of the department and complain about the situation. If he/she can't rectify the problem with an absentee professor, you may have to drop the class. Continuing in a class that you are already struggling with from the beginning, even if it's because of the professor, will only bring down your grade point average and you do not want that to happen because it reflects very badly on you.

Some times every day life will just try the life out of us. Just reading all the replies here just shows that that's what life does, throws curballs and knuckle balls all the time.

Throws tragedies too, but it's the every day stuff that gets me down. An unexpected car repair, or annoying neighbors, school, mean people...it's a wonder we aren't all frowning all the time.

This is going to sound corny but here goes:

Someone sent me one of those emails once with all those encouraging sayings like, when I grumble about paying bills, I think about how glad I am that I have a job and money to pay the bills...etc.

Well, I've been trying that. At first it is very very hard to think in a positive way, after being so grouchy all the time.

This morning I was vacuuming, and I HATE vacuuming, and I HATE my vacuum cleaner (I hate them ALL) and then I remembered I was going to think positive so I thought about how glad I am that I have a home to vacuum, and that I have the stupid vacuum cleaner to begin with. It WORKED! And it worked a couple to times yesterday too.

Before that I wasn't having much luck, it's hard to let go of familiar feelings. I found my mood would resist giving up my complaints at first. But it's getting easier now. I'm not saying it's a cure all, but it helps me reduce stress, at least, it really does. I notice if I walk across the grocery store parking lot smiling, other people smile too. It's nice.

Part of the effect is, I'm not just changing a negative thought to a positive one, but I am distracting myself, too. Training myself.

PS and, as I said, exercise helps a lot. I broke my foot on labor day weekend, and due to other things like arthritis and bone spurs I was unable to walk at all (not counting daily activities) until just recently. The past two weeks. It's heavenly.

As far as work, I try not to talk about it or think about it when I'm not there. I try to completely forget about my job on the weekends. Some people might say this is denial, but I'm a happier person for it. Bless your heart, I know you've been going thru a tough time lately and I hope it gets better for you soon.

It's one of those weekends for many isn't it!
Something stupid just set me off and I came here to read threads. LoL

I pet my cats. Then I start cleaning--esp. vacuuming. (With 10 cats, my house cam always use some vacuuming!). I find that cleaning helps me de-stress, AND accomplishes something useful (instead of me sitting around, and fretting about the problem). Hot baths and a good book also help me.

I also try to work on a craft project or polish silver (seriously!). I collect old silver, cheap because it's tarnished. I find that rubbing off the tarnish and buffing it to a lovely shine takes my mind off things. And, if I'm angry, I rub the tarnish harder!

I usually cry when I'm stressed. I know that sounds weird.. but I feel so much better. I confide in my boyfriend or my parents and usually in the mix of tellin' them I end up crying a lot.. and then I feel relaxed.. maybe a little embarrased but.. better. Talking really gets me through.. I'm college student right now too and it's rough. not just class but worrying about money and everything.. I know. I'm also a runner though... Running really helps me too.

This is getting me to think about my coping skills. I have been slacking off lately and am super unhappy and snippy to everyone.

I do the same thing another poster said. I always turn over into a positive. If my job is getting me down I am thankful to have one and have one that lets me support myself and my cats. If my neighbors are getting me down I think about the warmth in my house and how I am fortunate to have a roof over my head and food on the table. If my health gets me down I am fortunate to not have to have surgeries and take 20 different meds and have a million dr's appt's. Nothing is ideal about my life but I am very thankful to have what I have.

So, try some positive affirmations. I also read magazines, the articles are short or I can look at what people are wearing and just zone out for while. It is also amazing what simple breathing while you stretch or walking around the block can do for the psyche. I also sniff nice soothing aromas like lavender. I also will take the Bach's flower essence's Rescue Remedy and it is amazing how it helps stop my nerves from clanging when i get really stressed.

Once you are calmer though please address the professor issue with the dean or whomever handles those things. If you have copies of the emails I would bring those also and then show how the book doesn't address what he think it does. You deserve a proper education!

I have ZERO stress management skills. The one thing that they tried to teach me in rehab just didnt stick. Normally its the mornings that set me off and generally its the dog like now, its raining really bad the ground is soaked thru so I knew since last night Franklin WILL NOT go outside in the rain no matter what. So I tried my random plea with BF to have him get up first instead and make the coffee and take the dog out. That didnt work and Franklin just kept coming back to the bedroom for me to take him out. Which just set off the fuse and it just kept going. So I got up took him out and actually went as far as to lock him out of the house to try and force him to go pee..Nope didnt happen he just sat there and whined and whined so I let him back in. And then I blew up on BF which caused his fuse to blow which started a huge fight between us about me being a miserable you know what in the mornings. *Yeah not a good morning for me* But when this happens I NEED to blow up and let it out so I just went in the kitchen did the dishes because cleaning helps me get over the madness and about 20 minutes later me and BF were both fine and over the whole incident and the dog was napping on the couch....So far all is well in the house but we had a heart to heart with Franklin and told him that if he pees in the house because its raining out hes going to get grounded and Rita (his loofah GF) is going to get locked in the spare room...So far so good no accidents in the house and he peed in the stones instead of on my car tire like normal!!!

Now I just hope when I get my taxes done this afternoon I get alot of money back so I can pay off what we are behind on in bills and still have some leftover for fines because I dont want to make our P.O. mad even though he gave us leeway to not pay our fines....Id atleast like to be able to put 50 bucks down on each of our fines to try and get caught up.

I find it hard at times when I'm stressed, I suffer with headaches which last for ages

I've managed to keep my stress levels under control recently, and having music to wind down to has really helped me and I even went for a long walk to the beach yesterday to think things over. I felt better once I got back

Anyways, I find the 'deep breaths' method doesn't really work for me any more, and talking about situations or things that are making me feel stressed seem to be doing the trick. Also, writing is good too....gets rid of those vibes and it takes the weight off the mind

Thanks everyone, it really helps to know that I'm not suffering alone!
I don't like to talk about it (I'm one of those "stuff it down and bottle it up" types) but I have been thinking about trying to start jogging or something. Difficult now with all the snow and ice and I've got a dodgy knee but...I would love to lose some weight. The thing is I think to myself- woo, lets go out and jog a mile, sounds good!! But by the time I get to the end of the block (uphill) I'll be panting and weeping and it's not so fun (Ok maybe it's not that bad but you know what I mean).

Originally Posted by MonaxLisa

Thanks everyone, it really helps to know that I'm not suffering alone!
I don't like to talk about it (I'm one of those "stuff it down and bottle it up" types) but I have been thinking about trying to start jogging or something. Difficult now with all the snow and ice and I've got a dodgy knee but...I would love to lose some weight. The thing is I think to myself- woo, lets go out and jog a mile, sounds good!! But by the time I get to the end of the block (uphill) I'll be panting and weeping and it's not so fun (Ok maybe it's not that bad but you know what I mean).

Click to expand...

the secret to exercise is to do something you LIKE to do. If you hate jogging, you aren't going to want to do it, so you set yourself up for failure before you even start.

Walking is better for you anyway, less impact on your joints. I love to walk, so it is a useful exercise for me. I enjoy doing the hydraulic circuit at Curves too.

But you know, even adding 20 minutes of walking to your day, every day, can make huge changes in your life. Reduce blood pressure, tone up (better balance) increase blood circulation, release endorphins....

You can add that 20 minutes in lots of ways, too. Don't use drive-thu ANYTHING.

Park in the farthest parking space and walk across the parking lot, no matter what errand you are running.

Wash your car at the self service place once a week, that's great exercise!

If you tend to "eat at your desk" at work, bring a lunch that can be eaten by hand and go for a walk while you eat your sandwich and apple.

So what do you enjoy doing, that you could make into a purposeful exercise program? (I prefer to go alone, but many people find that an "exercise buddy" helps keep them motivated, plus you can yak at the same time, thus releasing even more stress!)

I get rid of my stress by going out dancing a lot and during the summer, ride lots of roller coasters