How do you deal with an extreme stress level?

[bicentennial_baby]

I'm having a bit of a time right now...school is unrelentingly difficult right now, so much work. Dad has been in the hospital for 2 months +, Mom is slowly dying from ALS, getting married reduced my financial aid significantly, don't know how I'll pay for it and Sniffa's schooling next year as well.

I'll be shocked if I can sleep well tonight.

No time for Yoga, naps...How do you lessen the stress?

:)

[leftofthedial]

1. mega B vitamins and C too

EmergenC helps me, oddly enough

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Breathe

You've got to make time for it. Notice your breath whenever you have an instant...when you're walking or driving from here to there...when you're waiting for the traffic light to change...when you're on hold on the telephone...and when you lie down at night.

:hug::hug::hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

6. I worked on that during my huge panic attack this afternoon...

I felt it coming on, started sweating and feeling shaky. Had Sniffa rub my neck while I did deep breathing. I made it through ok, still felt shaky for most of the day/evening, feel ok now. Eh.

:hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. Do you consume a lot of caffeine?

I've found that cutting back has helped me a lot. LeftOfTheDial's vitamin suggestions are very good as well... :hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Yes, I do...it seems to be equivalent with my workload

i.e. I don't drink it during summer or winter break too much. I need to get it together. Cut back on that, resume my vitamins, eat more frequently and stop drinking. It's times like these that I feel lke hiring a life coach, hehe. Too much!! I want a retreat!

:hug:

[Pierre.Suave]

3. Every now and then...

You need to take some time to do something that relaxes you.

For me it can be as simple as listening to beautiful classical music, or cuddling in front of the fireplace, or going sailing.

But, you also have to deal with whatever is stressing you, that is the best way to get rid of the stressor, to deal with it and get it taken care of.

[SPKrazy]

4. scream into your pillow

cry

talk to others

hugs

exercise

know that one day at a time things can look a lot different than they do today, okay?


:hug: :hug: :hug:

:loveya:

[Wcross]

5. Stress relief.....

[MorningGlow]

7. Chocolate

Okay, seriously? This may have come from a movie (I don't remember) but it really works--if we can look around and find ONE beautiful thing each day--just stop and admire it for a moment--we're truly living.

Sometimes you have to turn off your mind and admire a cloud formation for a minute. Does wonders for stress. It sounds difficult, but it can be done.

Hang in there! :hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

8. Apparently by developing severe depression and two, count 'em, two herniated lumbar discs

I think you should try to take things just one day at a time. I know what it's like to have suffering parents, and that is HORRIBLE. At least you have Sniffa - I was all alone. Rely on your husband and other support system to get you through it, and take time to listen to good music, go for walks, eat ice cream or just SCREAM if that's what helps.

[LynzM]

9. I'm sorry things are so hard for you right now, bb...

:hug: For me, I went through a period of stress that was so bad that I basically had an anxiety/nervous breakdown that was awful, and took me almost two years to truly recover from. I learned to make time for myself, even if it was only 10 minutes, to do what I wanted... read, take a bath, sit and think. I learned, to some degree, how to say "no." Those things don't really sound like the lessons you need... but maybe the 10 minutes. Have a cup of cocoa or decaf tea, call a friend for a few minutes, do something to focus on taking care of your own physical and mental well-being.

On a more practical level... not that you need more things to fit into your schedule, but have you talked to a financial counselor at your school about options for next year? And are there any groups or counselors nearby who could help you to cope with the stress around your parents being ill, and the grieving for your mom that must be happening to some extent, already? Many hugs... :hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

11. Awww...I love you...

:hug:

You made me tear up, for the first time all day. I've been resisting that as much as possible.

Once I get my financial aid package I am planning on going to meet and see what our options are. Sniffa has to file his FAFSA too, and then I can work from there. And yes, I need to be in counseling, it's just with school and everything else, I haven't had the time or energy to pursue it. A low dose Klonopin script would do wonders for my sleep right now. I'm doing my best to keep my head above water, but I'm feeling like I'm about to dive right now, and I'm concerned. I just have to keep going forward.

I've had one of those nervous breakdowns, and I cannot go back there. I just have to focus and make it work, whatever it is.

[Haole Girl]

10. There was a thread asking how people find serenity, yesterday..

Here was my post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7611159&mesg_id=7611218

Listening to music, taking pics, talking with friends, drinking (yeah, I know),
watching a good movie, and many times...when things get crazy...
I try very hard to remember my favorite places.

Wish I could help more, BB. :hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Okay, this will sound incredibly simplistic but

focus on the long term goals for education and remind yourself of the good thing you have in the present.
It takes some time and a lot of effort to switch off the stress brain and activate the thankful brain, but if you can do it, it works wonders.

:pals:

[bicentennial_baby]

15. I'm really trying to do that...The Doomsday thinking keeps

overriding me. I'm really trying though, I promise.

:pals:

[yardwork]

16. I'm very sorry for what you're going through.

There's a lot of good advice in this thread. I would add "take care of yourself" to the list. Eat well. Don't be tempted to eat junk food. Take vitamins. I find that Calcium-Magnesium supplements help stress (CalMag). Be careful with caffeine. I would totally stay away from alcohol. Even though it seems to relax you for a short time, the stress it puts on your body causes a boomerang effect. Same with caffeine and sugar.

Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, fish, proteins, and complex carbs. Even though you don't feel like eating healthy, it really will help your body deal with stress. It will help protect you from getting sick, too, which is the last thing you need right now!

Get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day, even if it is walking or running up and down the stairs in your apartment or school building.

Hugs to you! :hug:

[NC_Nurse]

17. Wow, that sounds tough! Is there a support group for families of ALS folks

near you? That is SUCH a hard illness to deal with and watch a loved one go through. I would want someone to talk to
that understands what it's like. If you're having trouble sleeping, a Benadryl or two (up to 50mg) can help. It's the active
ingredient in Tylenol PM - you probably don't need the Tylenol unless you have a headache or bodyaches. I take it once in a while.
It can leave you drowsy in the morning, so I only take it when I lay awake for a while and know I'm not going to sleep without it.
If I think of other stuff, I'll add it tomorrow. I have to turn in now...I hope you sleep tonight. :hug:

[Akoto]

18. Well, my methods ...

I have a chronic pain condition which tends to be worsened by stress. The following have worked for me ...

1. Cut out the catastrophic thinking. This is the big one. The more you think like that, the more you worry, and the worse you feel as a consequence. It does you no good whatsoever to consider such possibilities when they may never happen. I finally pulled myself out of a month's depression/panic following the diagnosis by realizing this.

2. Tai Chi has been superb for me, not only physically, but as a stress reliever. You can often find low-cost (or even free) lessons at local community centers. If not, pick up a book for beginners. If you can find just a few minutes every day, you can do some Tai Chi.

3. Relaxation time. Regardless of what's going on, I've found it important to take some time strictly for myself. Enjoy a hot bath, watch a TV show, read a book, play a computer game. Whatever I'm in the mood for, I take time to do it.

4. In the same vein, I make sure to get out every day and go somewhere. It doesn't really matter where. Quick trip down the road, grab a bagel at Dunkin Donuts, go out to lunch, whatever. Being out in the world for no specific reason seems to, for some reason, help my stress (and my symptoms). It may just be the fact that my mind is distracted for a while, or maybe it's being out of the house, where I tend to stress and worry a lot.

5. Understanding that nothing is forever. Things are bad now, but they will get better. My condition comes and goes in cycles, so when I'm in the really dark depths of a flareup, I remind myself that I've been here before and will not remain forever.

6. If you can't sleep, don't. Really. When I've been in pain or am panicky, I've found that trying to sleep makes it even more difficult. Read something or, for lack of success, get up and do something.

7. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Your GP, a mental health professional, whatever. We all get overwhelmed at times, and there's absolutely no shame in consulting them for a helping hand. If you can't afford a privately practicing individual, check around to see if your county has a mental health clinic. The folks there are just as qualified and will usually work on a sliding scale.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

19. Buy an ounce and smoke it all without taking a single breath.

Trust me. You'll forget what the word "stress" even means.

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

20. Meditation...

Even if it's for a few minutes. Just take a little time for you...quiet room, no TV, no cell phone, no distractions. You can also find a quiet place to go to, like a park, a bookstore or library...just someplace to escape the everyday. I hope things get calmer for you soon. :)

[Forkboy]

21. Two or three murders a week and I'm fine.

:freak:

Honestly, if I knew the answer to that I wouldn't be so stressed all the time myself. But I hope things mellow out for you soon, and that you can find that inner peace thing that eludes me like a greased eel.

:hug:

[OmahaBlueDog]

22. Drinking more decaf

and getting told by my doctor that I should seek counseling.

20 years ago, I quit smoking 30 Marlboros everyday, which I'd done for the prior 9 years -- which was the last time I remember serenity.