In days of severe stress and anxiety, how do you relax?

[Deja Q]

My stress levels have gone through the roof lately, and while some of it I know is irrational, I still feel it.

Indeed, I am now having near-constant headaches because of it. Even long after work and in comfy situations.

Yes, I am going to see the doc...

But how do you relax in such situations?

I've tried breathing, I've tried unhealthy things (of which I shall adumbrate in a moment), and breathing exercises do not help.

I've had some luck, so far, doing upper body muscle exercises and I can now do 5+ minutes with low level weights and several 30 second reps with the heavy ones, but I'm looking forward to the time I can do 5 minutes with the heavy ones.



Note: Such a stressful situation requires you are unable to escape it for a long period of time. (I've actually banged my fist against the desk in abject frustration and used a pair of scissors to cut my arm due to the level of stress I had to endure.)

[mopinko]

1. i ride my bike

have had anxiety as a side effect of several meds, and as a result of several realities. not always an option in chicago, but either riding or walking has gotten my through some truly crushing times. walking is taxing, and i don't always have the strength for it, but riding is different. sailing through space, riding along my beautiful lakefront- true salve for hard times.
thom hartmann has a book on mindful walking. haven't read it, but what i read about it makes sense. he is a big believer in evolutionary psychology, and all, which i think is going to revolutionize humanity as soon as it replaces religion. but the point is to tap into hard wired human behaviors, and i can see it.
:hug:

[Droopy]

2. Hey man

Give me a call if you ever feel like hurting yourself again. I mean it.

Personally, I don't get very stressed about anything anymore. I think that is partly due to the meds I have to take and partly due to living through a decade of extreem stress. My mind just won't take it anymore so I say fuck it. That's what you need, Toad, just a way to say, "fuck it," and really mean it and let things go.

[EFerrari]

3. I walk and I take anxiety meds. Both seem to help some.

And I read DU. It's good to take a break from mememe. :)

[stillcool]

4. I've been very agitated lately...

for the last few weeks. My doctor thinks its seasonal...whatever that means. I've been restricting my time on DU, spending more time reading, listening to music, taking baths, and going for walks, when the ice melts. This is unusual for me. It almost feels like something is messed up chemically...like I'm taking new drugs. That said, the only sane place in the world seems to be in my head. What a thought!
http://www.roger-waters.com/intheflesh.html
Roger Waters: Perfect Sense Part I & II

The monkey sat on a pile of stones
And he stared at the broken bone in his hand
The strains of a Viennese quartet
Rang out across the land
And the monkey looked up at the stars
And he thought to himself
Memory is a stranger
History is for fools
And he cleaned his hands
In a pool of holy writing
Turned his back on the garden
And set out for the nearest town
Hold on, hold on soldier
When you add it all up
The tears and the marrowbone
There's an ounce of gold
And an ounce of pride in each ledger
And the Germans killed the Jews
And the Jews killed the Arabs
And the Arabs killed the hostages
And that is the news
And is it any wonder
That the monkey's confused
He said Mama Mama
The President's a fool
Why do I have to keep reading
These technical manuals
And the joint chiefs of staff
And the brokers on Wall Street said
Don't make us laugh
You're a smart kid
Time is linear
Memory is a stranger
History is for fools
Man is a tool in the hands
Of the great God Almighty
And they gave him command
Of a nuclear submarine
Sent him back in search of
The Garden of Eden


(Part II)
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense
Expressed in dollars and cents
Pounds shillings and pence
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense
Little black soul departs in perfect focus
Prime time fodder for the News at Nine
Darling is the child warm in the bed tonight
Hi everybody I'm Marv Albert
And welcome to our telecast
Coming to you live from Memorial Stadium
It's a beautiful day
And today we expect a sensational matchup
But first our global anthem
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense
Expressed in dollars and cents
Pounds shillings and pence
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense
And here come the players
As I speak to you now the captain
Has his cross hairs zeroed in on the oil rig
It looks to me like he's going to attack
By the way did you know that a submarine
Captain earns 200,000 dollars a year
Oh that's less tax Marv yeah less tax
Uh thank you Emery you're welcome
Now back to the game he fires one yes
There goes two both fish are running
The rig is going into a prevent defense
Will they make it I don't think so
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense
Expressed in dollars and cents
Pounds shillings and pence
Can't you see
It all makes perfect sense

[EFerrari]

5. I'm asking for a meds change tomorrow and starting a short course

of therapy with a great doc.

Somethings really are beyond my control and I'm grateful for whatever help I can get.

On the whole, while I'm anxious lately, my outlook seems to be lightening. I've been doing more lately and feel a little tired from that but bet that's a good thing. No predictions here, just doing right now.

:hug:

:grouphug:

[stillcool]

6. sometimes I think I have choices...

that aren't there...like I really don't need therapy/drugs. I get very self-righteous, secretive, and insistent. Interestingly, my suicide attempts have been this time of the year. I think depression energized with anger has the makings for a perfect storm with me. Somehow I forget past experiences and think that what I'm feeling is unique, different, and frightening. I wish it didn't take so long for me to figure out what's up....

[EFerrari]

7. My online group and I used to work hard to identify that moment

when we were set off and began to head down a hurtful road. The moment before you make that left turn.

I sometimes have those thoughts about meds. And, most of us found, like you, that there were patterns we wanted to avoid. Falling on your head once is a bummer. Falling on your head forty seven times is a hobby. And wow, there are so many other ones that are more entertaining. :)

:hug:

[Cabcere]

8. I love that album...

Roger Waters is a genius. The story behind Amused To Death is so true...and that's scary and depressing as all hell to me, but I'm drawn to it anyway. :shrug: