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How do you manage your stress levels? Select all that apply.
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Exercise, meditation, taking a nap
Napping! Love to nap! Phone on DND from 1pm to 2:30. I listen to Audible books.
Listening to music 🎶 and focused breathing exercises.
I pray. Because I can get through all things through Christ who strengthens me and gives me peace that surpasses all understanding.
Amen
Retired, comfortable, supportive family, rarely face stress.
Steve, I agree. I work still, averaging 50+ hours a week since the pandemic, but consider myself lucky to have a remote, safe working environment earning good money. My husband and I are comfortable, own our own home, debt-free. I know I am lucky, and I do not create stress for myself. I keep my life simple but meaningful. I am truly blessed, and best of all, I know it and appreciate it.
prayer and reading Christian Mystics
Meditation and Sleeping.
If meditation doesn’t give me the ‘answers’ I’m searching for, sleep will allow me time to ‘consider’ whether I’m asking the right question(s).
I ha ve been stressed again by these variants of Covid. I have had 3 vaccines and the annual flu vaccine, but still fearful of being in crowds or attending gatherings because of my age and T1D. However, the mental health of being isolated and alone is not healthy either. Can someone tell me how to go forward safely besides wearing a mask?
Connie, really only you can guide yourself. None of us want to tell you something, and then you do it, and you get sick. We would all feel horrible and responsible. But, I also didn’t want to ignore your obvious need for reassurance. It’s OK to be frightened. We all are scared of something, be it COVID or large crowds or speaking in public. And we all handle our fears differently, but no one better than someone else. Some of us avoid what makes us afraid, hiding and not really living and some of us confront our fears, sometimes to the point of recklessness. Most of us fall somewhere in between. If your fear is debilitating, then reach out for professional help. But realize we are all afraid and we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and be kind to ourselves. Stay well, Connie, but also stay strong. You are not alone.
I tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. I assume it is the Omicron variant since I have no symptoms whatsoever. I have to admit I did not sleep well the first night after finding out I was positive due to worry. I do wear a mask, keeping social distancing and never go anywhere with crowds but I still got it. I have friends who have not left their home is 20 months out of fear of getting it. Oh, I have received all three injections as well. We all have different risk levels.
Take my dog for a walk inthe hills, or to town. Raking leaves is always good too.
Connie, try zoom classes for seniors. Slow yoga or meditation. One where you can see other people at the same time.
My best stress management strategy is to know what God says about me. I read the Bible and integrate those truths every day. My time on Earth is very short in light of eternity.
I have a nice path in the woods where I walk my dog and talk to her. She is a very good listener. And she waggs her tail giving me good feedback.
My go-to’s are work and exercise. I keep myself busy, and burn off my stress. Often, my stress is related to high blood sugars or diabetes. Otherwise, it depends on the circumstances. I try to see the situations clearly, and admit to myself what my actions may have done to cause the stress.
Most of the things listed increase my stress rather than reduce it.
I do what has to be done normally, pray, exercise if I can, talk it over with a couple good friends. If it gets overwhelming I go talk to a therapist. I have don that for 3 periods in my life , when I had teenager rebellion, after heart surgery and. When my husband died 3 yrs ago. Not bad when you consider I am pretty upbeat, mentally sharp and have taken good care of my diabetes fir 43 yrs
Exercise (the pets make sure of that……they want their walks) and prayer. And changing what I can and changing how I respond when I am not the cause of stress.
My friends in 12 step programs have useful sayings. My favorite is let go and let God.
Listening to uplifting music.
I read!
I ignore the cause of the stress. It’s usually ignorant, hateful people not worth the time.
Sunny Cat gets an ear full or I loudly express my view/concern to my iMac. It very much depends on the situation. I also “escape” to my portfolio. Viewing the floral close-ups, garden landscapes and farmers’ market images brings back the memory of the photoshoot and provides a moment of respite.
exercise, if walking counts as exercise.
Music is also helpful.
On a couple of anxiety meds but every month or so i have to take a mental health day to catch up on sleep.
I read the Bible and pray.
I pray
I take a well needed nap.
Music, reading or napping
Humor. Unless it’s completely inappropriate I try to find something humorous about the situation.
Practice or play drums.
My husband and I talk about it and we pray together.
Prayer
Me too.
Listening to music or white noise or audio books in addition to exercise and trying to solve or build strategies for problems or stressful situations I face.
I am part of a Barbershop harmony singing chorus group who practise at least one night a week even during the 2 meter distancing times when we would practice outside and in shelter. Singing such a great way for positive mental health.
Most men seem to be able to to to work and use that as a tool of stress relief. The more stress I get the harder I work (I’ve rebuilt washers or motors cussing BUT there’s still a benefit from productivity), which beyond the immediate relief “from” the stressor fatigue kind of slows your thoughts from the “what ifs…”
But nothing is more relaxing than watching a rescued dog grow and beyond comfortable: explore, walk, sniff, greet. Likewise my cat purring on my chest is pretty therapeutic. Age has slowed me some and I found the “worse” rarely happens, so the animals are now my first line, although since I’ll probably retire 3 years after I die that’ll always be there.
Sometimes I just cry.
Several of the listed answers and I pray, listen to music, read spiritual writing selections from various wisdom traditions, spend time in nature, engage in a creative art project like drawing and coloring mandalas, or making something with beads and cloth.
It depends on the stress. Physical ones are usually dealt with by sleep or rest.
Emotional ones are usually tried to be worked out. I am a very open blunt person and try to understand others’ perspectives and why something stressful occurred immediately. It may be obvious that I need to shut up and just journal it or talk to someone else, but usually I try to work with whomever it occurred, so it will not be repeated.
With lots of surrounding negative emotions I often listen to music or leave.
Emotions are the most contagious condition we have.
Do you write down one thing for which you are grateful each day?
Sitting quietly and breathing deeply for 10 minutes upon arising and/or before bed at night has helped me.
Going for a walk every day to explore my neighborhood helps.
Ask your librarian for a joke book or comedy DVDs.
Over the years I found yoga very soothing.
Does your insurance cover cognitive behavioral therapy? Acupressure? Acupuncture?
I meditate on the word of God through worship music and do a lot of praying.
Listening to podcasts, reading
I pray about it and ask God to give me wisdom to know how best to solve it.
Growl at my dog.
2020 and 2021 have been periods of almost unendurable stress, grief, and depression. 2022 is not looking any better. Managing? No, I don’t think anyone would call what I have been doing “managing my stress levels. No offense to those who have found comfort in activities like exercise, yoga, prayer, etc. Not for me.
So – I cry, sob, keen, and feel guilty about not being with my mother when she died alone. I do the same about the fact that she is dead. I blame those who refused to wear masks or self-isolate when this all started in 2020 for keeping me from her. I already had a flight booked to go visit her before COVID struck. Then all hell broke loose.
I rant, weep, rage about work and certain co-workers. I sing songs and substitute curse words and unflattering names for them. I create haiku about them in my head. I also dream of retirement and surf the internet for the best places to do so. (Rolls eyes…)
I sit at home watching brainless TV shows or playing Candy Crush. This does nothing for decreasing work-related stress. (Duh!)
As might be obvious, I occasionally kvetch and disclose way too much in online forums.
I faithfully take anti- depression/anxiety meds; the dosages of which have been increased several times during COVID.
The only positive (?) is that I have lost 30 pounds and my A1C is 5.9. This is what planning a funeral from 600 miles away, in a city that you haven’t lived in for 35 years, and during COVID shutdowns can do for you.
I’ve never been a journal or counseling type person. I deal with stress by making lists and getting tasks completed. In the summer, I go outside and pull weeds (my favorite stress reducer LOL!) or take a bike ride or walk by myself. I also try to step away from the emotional side of the stress and review the situation for solutions. My stress level these past 3 years has been very high. Solutions to the stress are not easy ones with the old and/or ill, so there is no effective way to eliminate the source of the stress.