POLL: What do you do to deal with stress?

I drink and sleep. Generally in that order. ;0)

I used to get really stressed out over everything. I was always worried, and would obsess about the possible consequences of the tiniest social interaction. So I gave it up. I don't know what I would do about the stress of coming back to work from vacation. I've taken a vacation, in the past four years, exactly the number of times I've ridden a unicorn.

What an interesting question. >:)

Because I am such a complicated little twist of fate, there is not a singular solution to my stress. It depends on the kind of stress I am coping with as to just how I go about sorting through it.

There are days when I am so agitated that I can't sit still. When that happens, I clean house, clean out my closet, clean anything at all to weed out the unfavorable sights before me. I generally stay as close to home as possible when I am in such a state. It's not pretty.

Music has been a true gift for me, but which type of music is wholly dependent on which brand of stress I am battling. For instance, if I am working on large-scale mathematics or business solutions, I turn to heavy metal. If I am fretting over people (child, parent, friend, co-worker, whatever) I turn to country and western. If I am analyzing sociological issues on a grand scale, I often reach for those who are in a grade all their own, such as Kid Rock or Eminem, among others.

To prevent stress, I indulge in and plan ahead for very simple, little things. Today I splurged $2.50 for 5 candles. I relish things such as long days in bed with a good book, and plan them faithfully to help avoid burnouts. I plan ahead for a special dinner, not necessarily an expensive one, but something that I happen to be wishing for. Today, for example, I cooked a big round of rice with veggies, and knowing that will be there for me all week is going to be a big relief on the coming nights when I know I won't feel much like cooking.

I'm surprised that no one mentioned sex.

What do you do to deal with stress?

I try to avoid people or situations that cause me stress. If I do stress out then its my bicycle for a hard 25 miles. I might try shooting guns which is a superb stress releaser. The instant you take one into your hands your training kicks in and calmness prevails. That doesn't work, I go to work. I love work.

I do like my Granny said, "There are people in the world that have more problems than we do". Just thinking about that pretty much takes the stress away. That old saying, I complained because I didn't have a new pair of shoes until I met a man who didn't have feet, is a real reminder that sometimes we put too much on something or someone that isn't that much.

I find that exercising helps to relieve stress more than anything else, although I don't do it nearly enough. I like Zumba and Aeroboxing classes at the fitness club that I belong too. If the poll had allowed for two choices, I would have also checked "spend time with a pet". It is really soothing when one of my kitties purrs while sitting in my lap while I am stroking its soft fur.

I usually smoke a little pot. Seems to work pretty well. Of course, I'm in job hunt mode at the moment so, because of those wonderful post-offer screening tests, I've been pretty stressed out the past few weeks.

I have actually done all the above on the pole.

If I am stressed about personal stuff - I love talking to my husband.

If I am stressed about what is going on in the world - I absolutely DO NOT talk to my husband. (He will be stressed and that stresses me out even more.)

Then there is always sex. A proven anti-stress activity!

When faced with stress.. I take the punching dummy or use dumbbells .. and work it for about 1/2 hour..

When I was younger I use to make work for myself in having to fix the holes I would put in the walls.. (Irish Temper)

Hit the gym..get all the endorphins flowing, feels great.

Stay out of NV political discussions.

I just noticed the picture. I take everything back: I need a giant, foam, noodle bed. This will relieve all stress.

I used to masturbate until I read on here that a Delaware Tea Party candidate said that was the same as committing adultery. What's next ? Can't scratch my ass cause that maybe sign of homosexuality?

Carloz, I've gone to several seminars on this topic. What still helps me are: calling my Mother(mostly) and friends ,chocolate,music,movie(out rarely, DVD mostly). Rarely go to concerts. I owe too much money, so this increases the stress. A lot of things cause more stress because of the finances, so have to be creative.

I have to eat ,so may eat out. Usually breakfast. I eat more balanced meals and don't waste money tossing out spoiled food. Stresses me. And the waitresses are becoming my friends. I've joined organizations to get me out of my rut. Would never have said TV/Newspaper interviews were things I wanted to do. Would rather have a stroke! I can feel my HR going up now. But the cause was VERY important and the people very helpful.

Working with the City as a grassroots activity. No pay. Very happy, though. Meeting people that I wouldn't have met ,otherwise. It's a rush, having ideas that someone will listen to and tell you that they are good ideas!

One doesn't always get that at work.

• Exercise. If I go more than three days without a really long walk I am pretty keyed up.
• Cleaning or doing laundry helps. These are tasks I just do over and over, so I don't have to "think" while I do them. Stuff gets done and then I have a sense of accomplishment.
• Working with my hands -- I just repaired an antique storage box that had been calling out to me for a year or two. Tending to plants is cathartic.
• Reading -- Immersing myself in a good story helps shift the focus off moi ;)

Good to read you as always Carloz!

Hmm. I'm with you, Ann, it needs to be about working with the hands. I don't stress easily or over much but when I do, I usually cook! This means we must invite a bunch of friends over to help consume the results so that naturally works off the tension with lots of laughter and good conversation. I feed them and they restore my faith in humanity. What a bargain!

I cuddle with my pets...sit on my patio with a glass of something...read...exercise...watch mindless TV, the mindless-er, the better...do housework....progressive relaxation/deep breathing/guided imagery (a mix of the three - works well for some situations)

Yell very loudly!!!

Sometimes I vent it out, sometimes I work it out.

Venting it out normally is in the form of writing/typing. I just sit at computer, and free form write, letting "it" and everything else just flow. Unconnected thoughts, happiness and joy, anger and frustration, just let it all out. Don't worry about punctuation or spelling. (Then I save it, and go back about a week later, and see if I can do anything about anything I wrote down, figure out if it's valid and something I need to work on on a personal level).

Other times, I do things that require extreme concentration (like timed very hard sudoku, or puzzle games that require watching what is going on), while listening to music (variable, normally trance, electronic, classical, or old acid rock). I choose those types of games, to keep the concious part of my brain "occupied", and let my sub-concious work on whatever the issue(s) is(are). I find that the stress normally goes away, eventually, and I've figured out something about what caused it and how to deal with it in the future.

Either way, I figure out something about why whatever it is that stressed me did so, and sometimes find a way to help minimize that stress next time that situation arises again.

pot, the beatles, and a few minutes.

mu husband cooks when he is stressed he finds it a creative outlet and very relaxing. and i get a break.

Mark me down with the "exercise" crowd.

My friend had a big tractor tire he used to flip end over end. It took all your pulling muscle to stand it up and all your pushing muscles to knock it over. One time up or down the driveway and you forgot what was bothering you in the first place.

Personlly I recommend a heavy punching bag. Just go nuts with hands, elbows, feet, knees, head butt the thing for 5 or 6 minutes straight. Repeat as necessary. Even if you have no place to hang one up, put it on your shoulder, carry it into the yard, throw it on the ground and pounce on it.

Sure the neighbors will think you've come unglued, but they won't say anything to you about it.

Weed/Masterbation - both sins as I've recently learned!

;-)