MM ways to decrease stress

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

based on other posts many of you know that things have been stressful in my life recently.

DH is still job searching, he's had several promising leads, but that stress isn't going away until he accepts an offer. we've managed to eliminate our CC debt, however we're moving forward with a few projects this summer beacuse we've been planning for them, and they need to be done. I've been trying to hold things together for the past 8 weeks, but have been having severe optical migranes for the past 6 weeks.

I've been to my doctor's office twice, and have a prescription for imatrex, and after following up this morning they said all my symptoms point to severe anxiety (insomnia, racing heart rate when i try to go to sleep, TMJ, neck/back pain, migranes), since I'm generally opposed to taking a lot of daily meds, and this seems like an acute rather than chronic thing, they suggested that I need to do somethings for myself to decrease stress....so my question is, what MM things would you suggest I can do??

once our garden beds are installed and ready, that will be one thing I can do...but it'll be 2-3 weeks before they're build and full of dirt.

Erikan73 · April 2014

What about going to the library to get some meditation DVD's or seeing if you can find something online. One thing that I do when I'm overstressed is take a nice relaxing bath with some relaxing music with lavender bath salts (lavender bubble bath would probably work too). The warmth combined with the smell of the lavender is very relaxing & then after my bath, straight to be for a good night of sleep.

Also going for a walk can be relaxing weather permitting

vlagrl29 · April 2014

I'm sorry you are having that much anxiety. I understand not wanting to be on meds so try and self treat it first. I eventually had to go on ativan when my first husband passed away. I couldn't even function.

Go on groupon and find a yoga studio to try out. It's a fabulous way to destress. I highly recommend it. All that deep breathing and visualization can really help the way you think about life.

I would go to a chiropractor before getting on meds for back pain and what not. Maybe you can also find a groupon for a massage/facial.

I also love taking baths in our jacuzzi tub and fill it with bath salts and just veg out

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

HAHA, groupon is at least worth a laugh! the closest yoga class to me listed on Groupon is 107 miles away!

vlagrl29 · April 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

HAHA, groupon is at least worth a laugh! the closet yoga class to me listed on Groupon is 107 miles away!

that sucks! We have quite a few on ours and thats how I found the yoga studio I belong to now. If there is one close to you just drop in for a class or if you can't go online. I'm sure there is a website that has yoga workouts and that would be free.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

there is a yoga studio just 1/2 a mile from our house, I love the woman who teaches there, I have conflicts with their evening classes the next few weeks (several of them I'm actually teaching a dance class at the same time down the street) but after that I'll have to try a little harder to get back in there.

maple2 · April 2014

I've never had the intensity of anxiety you have, but free/cheap things that have helped me are are getting out in nature, going for walks (preferable in pretty places), yoga with a video or just making my own routine, keeping a notebook and pen by my bed to write down anything that is making me anxious or keeping me from sleeping, and spending time with friends. Good luck!

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

Thanks guys! I took the dog out for nice long walks both days over the weekend and felt a bit better when I got home, I'm going to try to do it again today and maybe even get to the gym, I haven't had tons of extra time lately, but even a short walk should help. I think things are not being helped right now because my mom has been out of the country for a week and she's usually the one I call when I've had a frustrating day, can't wait to talk to her when she gets back.

I have an appointment with my therapist next week. maybe I'll see if any of my friends are free for lunch later this week.

vlagrl29 · April 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

Thanks guys! I took the dog out for nice long walks both days over the weekend and felt a bit better when I got home, I'm going to try to do it again today and maybe even get to the gym, I haven't had tons of extra time lately, but even a short walk should help. I think things are not being helped right now because my mom has been out of the country for a week and she's usually the one I call when I've had a frustrating day, can't wait to talk to her when she gets back.

I have an appointment with my therapist next week. maybe I'll see if any of my friends are free for lunch later this week.

Therapy is a huge help as well! I saw a therapist for 2 years when I was going thru a terrible time of my life. She helped me keep it all in check. She also recommended a CD that had guided meditation. I liked that as well.

smerka · April 2014

Ativan is a great short term solution. You can go on and off of it without much withdrawal. Your body builds up a resistance to it so it is not a good solution for long term use. It works wonders for me when I'm struggling and the Zoloft isn't enough. My list would be working out, going for a walk outside, cooking something special, having sex, baths, massages, favorite tunes, daydreaming, and sometimes just a smell (like from a candle) can work wonders.

Sisugal · April 2014

I find that a good cardio workout helps with stress and sleep. (run, fast walking, etc do not cost anything.)
Cleaning my house - really scrubbing the kitchen and bathrooms - cleaning everything in sight .
Sauna
Relaxing music
Avoid TV and electronics in the evening.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

Thanks, half the problem is that I literally don't have time a lot of nights to get a good cardio work out in...at work at 7:30am most days and not home until 8pm. the gym is open 'til 9, maybe I need to work on a way to swing by there on my way home. I'm planning to do another 1/2 marathon or two this summer, now that the snow is almost gone I guess I need to find a time to get back out there.

I spent the weekend spring cleaning, and mostly got annoyed that all H did was fold laundry and watch TV. we had a big discussion about it last night, he's planning to help more this weekend as I need to finish up the spring cleaning list.

vlagrl29 · April 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

Thanks, half the problem is that I literally don't have time a lot of nights to get a good cardio work out in...at work at 7:30am most days and not home until 8pm. the gym is open 'til 9, maybe I need to work on a way to swing by there on my way home. I'm planning to do another 1/2 marathon or two this summer, now that the snow is almost gone I guess I need to find a time to get back out there.

I spent the weekend spring cleaning, and mostly got annoyed that all H did was fold laundry and watch TV. we had a big discussion about it last night, he's planning to help more this weekend as I need to finish up the spring cleaning list.

I have to do lists for DH if I want him to get stuff done. By nature I am always doing something and hardly sit down, DH and I are very different when it comes to that. He knows how to relax more than I do. If I give him a list of man chores I don't get irritated because he will do it.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

yea...our discussion was more about how I had created the list(because he asked for the list), yet he chose to sit and watch tv and fold laundry while I ran around the house trying to clean things.

vlagrl29 · April 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

yea...our discussion was more about how I had created the list(because he asked for the list), yet he chose to sit and watch tv and fold laundry while I ran around the house trying to clean things.

not cool. he should have done the list.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

it was not cool. we talked about it, he understands why I was upset about it...but we'll see if he acts differently next time we have a project like that. I'm usually ok being the one that does the majority of the thorough cleaning, but the once-a-year spring clean (moving the refrigerator, stove, etc to clean) I'd like his help. he gets it now.

I went and took a ballet class yesterday...this was the first morning I've woken up without a headach in weeks!

uncreatedsnow · April 2014

Taking a bubble bath does wonders for me. Even if it's just 5 minutes. Definitely avoid electronics in the evenings if you can. Working out or walking. Going for a drive(though not really MM with gas prices). Cleaning! Not only do you get rid of anxious energy while you're doing it but next time you go into that room it's calming to see that it's DONE.

vlagrl29 · April 2014

Gdaisy09 said:

it was not cool. we talked about it, he understands why I was upset about it...but we'll see if he acts differently next time we have a project like that. I'm usually ok being the one that does the majority of the thorough cleaning, but the once-a-year spring clean (moving the refrigerator, stove, etc to clean) I'd like his help. he gets it now.

I went and took a ballet class yesterday...this was the first morning I've woken up without a headach in weeks!

I want to clean under the fridge and stove too! Who knows what we will find

MM ways to decrease stress

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