Coping with stress (spam on topic)

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:18 am

I have recently seen a few threads here at SYM where people describe a variety of different kinds of stress. Indeed, stress is one of the most common problems in today's society, and it is also a cause for unhappiness as well as unhealth.

So, do you have experience of stressful situations? What type of stress? And how did you cope with it? How do you cope with everyday stress such as school/work pressure, family and relationships conflicts or a generally dissatisfying life situation?

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:28 am

If I'm under significant stress I do a combination of things. Often, I will write in my journal; I find that releasing it all onto paper tends to help unlock a lot of buried garbage and confusion, and I usually see things in a far clearer perspective when I begin to write. Insights will occur to me as the words spill out onto the page. I'll also write poetry on occasion, or a fictionalised account of whatever situation is troubling me.

Going to the gym and pumping weights or getting on a rowing machine helps me a lot as well. It is quite meditative, and the hard exercise in and of itself is excellent for stress release, for one because it releases endorphins.

Or, I might play a combat-oriented video game

Talking to a close friend can help significantly as well, since an outside perspective can usually provide considerable insight, and it makes me feel slightly less alone.

Darth Potato · Post by **Darth Potato** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:31 am

I go to sleep

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:59 pm

I look at my babydaughter.
Edit: Really.

Magrus · Post by **Magrus** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:19 pm

I have a good deal of stress-related health problems. If I'm to believe all the doctors I've dealt with, half of my problems are caused by excessive stress. My neck and jaw being as bad as they are, sleeping problems etc.

I cope by venting my frustrations I come up with by killing things in games. Music, is my thing though. I can't deal with happy music, it drives me nuts. Aggressive music with lyrics that I can identify with though work wonders. I sort of ride those songs out with my emotions. I might stay pissed for a while listening to such music, but it's almost as if the music takes it away, and eventually it's not my feeling it anymore, just identifying with the music. The stress just sort of melts away.

I also find it helpful to deal with other peoples problems. A lot of the stress I deal with is just having to cope with how things are for me constantly. There aren't any real "problems" to work through all that often, just how circumstances have played out and need to be dealt with. So without being able to fix those circumstances I just need to take my mind off it and not worry. Helping others fix their problems does that, and I enjoy it. I've become the sort of anti-shrink for my friends. If they aren't comfortable going to one, they come to me instead with their problems. I find it to be extremely satisfying to end up helping a friend help themselves.

Also, I love taking walks. So long as it isn't icy out, a downpour, or horribly hot I don't mind walking. I'll walk through blizzards and thunderstorms occasionally as well. I grab my discman, and just take off and wander to my music. It's calming, and if I was angry to start off with, I end up walking until I'm exhausted and burning off all that energy.

Cuchulain82 · Post by **Cuchulain82** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:12 pm

I have a stressful job, and the best thing for me is to go to the gym. As a matter of fact, if I don't go to the gym, my muscles get tense and I tend to get headaches. I also will play SOA, and try to get enough sleep. Blowing off steam by going out is fun too, especially under the right circumstances...

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:30 pm

I like to play xBox for stress relief. Crimson skies or MechAssault work well.

Most people think I have a stressful job, but I think my old restaurant jobs were way worse, this one doesn't bother me at all.

Cuch, what do you do that is stressful?

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:33 pm

[QUOTE=Magrus]I have a good deal of stress-related health problems. If I'm to believe all the doctors I've dealt with, half of my problems are caused by excessive stress. My neck and jaw being as bad as they are, sleeping problems etc.

I cope by venting my frustrations I come up with by killing things in games. Music, is my thing though. I can't deal with happy music, it drives me nuts. Aggressive music with lyrics that I can identify with though work wonders. I sort of ride those songs out with my emotions. I might stay pissed for a while listening to such music, but it's almost as if the music takes it away, and eventually it's not my feeling it anymore, just identifying with the music. The stress just sort of melts away.

I also find it helpful to deal with other peoples problems. A lot of the stress I deal with is just having to cope with how things are for me constantly. There aren't any real "problems" to work through all that often, just how circumstances have played out and need to be dealt with. So without being able to fix those circumstances I just need to take my mind off it and not worry. Helping others fix their problems does that, and I enjoy it. I've become the sort of anti-shrink for my friends. If they aren't comfortable going to one, they come to me instead with their problems. I find it to be extremely satisfying to end up helping a friend help themselves.

Also, I love taking walks. So long as it isn't icy out, a downpour, or horribly hot I don't mind walking. I'll walk through blizzards and thunderstorms occasionally as well. I grab my discman, and just take off and wander to my music. It's calming, and if I was angry to start off with, I end up walking until I'm exhausted and burning off all that energy.[/QUOTE]

Wow.I do the same exact thing.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:11 pm

I've had the opportunity to live under intense physical and mental stress, the kind which, unless you've been part of some sort of military, or emt/fire/police service, you likely will never see.
I kinda hope you won't.

Sometimes the only thing that prevents you from breaking is that there are people there to help you through it, and they are going through it too.
I've learned to shrug stress off. Let it motivate you, then let it go.

Stress is like regret. It's a wasted emotion.

That said, it does build up. Crude as this is, the best cure for built up tension is a good drink, a good fight, and a good girl.

Magrus · Post by **Magrus** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:28 pm

[QUOTE=Obsidian]That said, it does build up. Crude as this is, the best cure for built up tension is a good drink, a good fight, and a good girl.[/QUOTE]

As much as humans become civilized and get farther from their roots, there will always be those basic animal instincts that come through. This is especially so with stress. Sometimes people need a physical release to their stress. My brother and I used to have our instant brawls when we got stressed by our parents when we were young. One or two swings each, someone ends up pinned to the ground and we go our seperate ways and calm down. An hour or so later we were stress free and playing again.

And, as crude as it sounds, good, rough sex does wonders for getting rid of pent up stress, frustration and general improvement of your mood.

nael · Post by **nael** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:24 pm

working out is my only real outlet.
another great one, but not as productive...drinking, and lots of it.

but the best...a good roll in the hay.

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:24 pm

I practice safe sax...

-ophone. Seriously, though, playing music really works the kinks out of you. Taking a nap or just "relaxing" to classical helps me, to.

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:27 pm

Safe Sax...Do you mean Safe sex???You confused me with your'e.......I play the Alto Saxaphone...I am a section leader....Do you play Tower_Master?

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:46 pm

[QUOTE=Darth Zenemij]Safe Sax...Do you mean Safe sex???You confused me with your'e.......I play the Alto Saxaphone...I am a section leader....Do you play Tower_Master?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I play the saxophone (ergo the fluffy bear with the saxophone)

Keep with it, man - sax is one of those things I've always been glad I stuck out! Great for stress relief.

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:59 pm

Yeah...Saprano,Alto,Tenor or Bari?BTW I did notice the bear thing.

Tower_Master · Post by **Tower_Master** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:03 pm

[QUOTE=Darth Zenemij]Yeah...Saprano,Alto,Tenor or Bari?BTW I did notice the bear thing.[/QUOTE]

Alto, Tenor, and Bari - I never really had a chance to play Soprano more then a couple of times, and I could never justify buying my own

. Anyway, why don't you PM me with your response, so we can stop spamming CE's thread, eh?

New thing to help with stress that I forgot to mention - weightlifting and martial arts. Good stuff, those.

jopperm2 · Post by **jopperm2** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:49 am

Obsidian, I agree totally with your last statement.

I was training to be a cop before I decided I didn't want to put my family through that kind of worrying. Police academy is one of the most stressful things I have done. (It's very similar to military training except the classroom portions, in fact mine was on a national guard base and all of the instructors were former military that are now police)

Others have mentioned working out. THat is pretty good for me too. Especially walking at high incline on a treadmill..

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 10:37 pm

My mom was going trying to become a cop...But something happened.I think she realized what you did about your'e family.

CM · Post by CM » Sun Mar 13, 2005 9:31 pm

Music and sleep. Those two do it for me. Add with music is listening to Telawat. Which is basically "sing" of the verses of the quran in a certain way. Really soothing that.