Stress !!!!!!

Ok, when I pre-op, I handled stress by eating.
I can't do that anymore. I can't drink or smoke.
In my teen years, I used to sleep, but w/ 2 small kids, that is not feasible

How do you handle it?

Just wondering

I scream lol

well depends on where you are - exercise is a great stress reliver. I have started doing deep breathing exercises at my desk - since that seems to be where I get stressed the most. OR I talk to a friend/co-worker, try and get to the bottom of what is making me stressed. Sometimes even just the walk up to the water cooloer or the bathroom helps - gets me out of the situation for a few minutes and lets me calm down.

Hope that this helps

Liz

I'm only 7 months out...don't drink or smoke....

Stress...I have some things I do to keep from eating....take deep breaths, take a time out from whatever is stressing me (usually work related, so I take a quick break from work), get up and stretch, drink some water or something decaf/no cals., call a friend....put some lotion on my hands, do my nails (ok, might not work for a guy LOL), wash my face, brush my hair,  brush my teeth.....anything to distract me.-- I've even been know to do yard work  (and for those who know me, they know I'm really stressed if I willingly doyard work!)

Now, I'm not perfect at this cause no one is perfect.  Wodneirng how other folks cope....

How do I handle it? ....

   I have sex ...Oh wait not an option here. 

    I have learned this past year that stress is a useless energy draining emotion I try not to worry about things I have no control over. I step back and deep breath give my self time to think it through to see if there is a solution to the problem or is just outta my hands then I accept that it is what it is. ...

  I will walk outside with my earphones on and get lost in thought or take a warm shower to release it all and in my mind it is all going down the drain because I have little control over it. Also I light lavendar scent to relax and calm me.  Sometimes I just go to bed and cry into my pillow. Other times I talk it out with a friend but tell them I just need them to listen to me..I have found awesome support ears on this board. Plus as it is no secret I tend to find humor in everything most times.

I am much more relaxed and calm then I was a year ago....I learned to address it head on and this year if only knew the curve balls I have been thrown yet I dealt with all of it  head on and it wasn't so bad at the end of the days. Yet my pillow is super absorbant.

I shop.

Take up Karate...I am finding it very therapeutic.  And, it keeps me from turning to the "bad" things that one would normally turn to when stressed. 

I no longer can eat under stress...i go the other way instead. 

Deal with the source and try to reduce and eventually eliminate your stress.

I'm female....so my top ones are:

A)  Yelling which eventually leads to...
B)   Crying....which eventually leads to...
C)  Crying even harder....

Seriously - that is what happens sometimes.  However, I have done what others have suggested and take a walk, get out of the situation for a few mins minimum....exercise....take a shower (only works when I am at home, they frown on me using the decon room at work, lol)

I have also started writing things down.  Figuring out what it is that I am stressed about and what I can do (if anything) to change it.  Not necessarily journaling - like I said in a previous post the other day...I am a list type of girl....so I make lists about what it is, what needs to be corrected, options to correct it....and things like that.

Have I turned to food since surgery?  I'd be lying if I said I didn't.  Granted most of the time it is something allowable in my diet...but there have been times where I have eaten stuff I shouldn't have.  Have I gotten sick?  You betchya.  At least that part taught me to really evaluate why and what I was eating.

Pam

Depending on the issue I usualy make a plan to address the source and attack it.  If it's something that is a little more difficult to attack - I go for a car drive and blare rock & roll music and sing along at the top of my lungs.  I also might go to Dave & Busters and play some of those boxing video games.....

You stressed?  Wanna go to D&B with me?

-GD

see my email for a laugh...