Oh, my screaming pillow and I are good friends:-) I can't soak (me too tall, tub too small) but I do iPad puzzles, watch cartoons, walk, pet cats, and am learning to cry:-) I also love to read nonfiction, usually history or science.... I also *love* to color or doodle! :-) I get lost in the doodles. Wheeeee.

My kindle died, but that pillow thing is a good tip:-)

I like the pillow tip! One of my biggest is to go to the library. The feeling of holding that first book and my blood pressure starts to lower. A special breed of nerd I know. Having a cup of tea and sitting in the porch or exercise (if my body wants to cooperate) are also go-to for me.

Stress relief is something that I'm working on. For me for sure, petting my cats helps. I have three cats; one in particular--Archie, an orange tabby--has an incredible purr. I call it my therapurr. I go for walks, weather and time permitting. I write stories and play video games--try to get lost in fantasy for a bit. And hot baths are my friend, too.

The problem that I still have is at night with my disturbed sleep. None of my usual stress-relievers seem to work at 2AM when I'm worried about accidentally waking up my husband. I don't want to read in bed--I've read that is a bad idea. The mind is supposed to associate bed = sleep. And I'm worried the lights will wake my husband up. Maybe after the move the layout of the new house will make it easier. I'm moving April 27--now all I have to do is hang in there until then.

That's a good question~ One that I don't yet have many answers to at this point in my life.

Video games can often be a good way to relax and de-stress, but it can still have pain repercussions, because I have to sit at the desk with my mouse and keyboard. And we don't have a set up right now where I can play on the couch or arm chair with a controller.

I might try the pillow screaming at some point, but the sound-proofing in this old house is likely too poor for me to feel comfortable while doing it. I can hear every cough from the upstairs neighbours, and even the loud snores of the sixty-something downstairs neighbour when he naps throughout the day.

With my total of zero real-life friends remaining, my life is a bit empty right now. And my pacing/health always seems too poor to have much energy for hobbies. Taking care of the house leaves me mostly spent for the week, so options are limited right now.

So work in progress for me. :) Still looking around what is feasible and effective.

The reason for this ? is to give others some ideas that they may not have thought of that they can try.
I have a velvet pillow that I pet in a rhythm at night if I wake and can't get back to sleep. Staying in a dark space and doing that helps me to get back to sleep. I also play music that is soothing and relaxing when I sit in my living room. I prefer that to the tv most of the time. When the weather permits I take my coffee out to the patio in the morning and watch the skies turn light. I also use my outside time to list what I am thankful for. It has a huge calming effect on me. Even with all I am going through being thankful helps to destress me.