Stress Management Support Group
Stress management defines stress as a person's physiological response to an external stimulus that triggers the "fight-or-flight" reaction.Stress can be overwhelming. This community is for best practices in stress management.
As a child I had REALLY long hair and a lot of my issues then were dealing with family. My family doted on my hair so as a way to rebel when I moved out and went to college I cut my hair off! It was so freeing, like a fresh start and here it is 11 years later that is still the way I deal with stress. Whenever things get really stressful, beyond what I can safely handle I feel compelled to cut my hair. At this point it isn't even a choice anymore, it's more like an instinct. I had a REALLY bad day today and after trying as many other coping mechanisms I could think of I still ended the night in the bathroom with the clippers. At first I was fine then I was disappointed. I have been trying to grow my hair back out fur quite some time so every time I cut it I feel defeated.
What are some ways that you all try to manage, cope, relieve, or reduce stress?
What are some ways that you all try to manage, cope, relieve, or reduce stress?
To answer your question, some of the ways that I now cope with stress include working out. I have a membership at a gym which I try to attend weekly. Working out means that you will be taking care of yourself and I find that it has also helped me to learn a lot about my self and my body. I find weight training to be really stress relieving. After a good workout (with lots of stretching), I find that my tensions are completely gone, I feel relaxed, at peace in my mind and I also feel like I'm being productive and I feel really good about myself. If you don't want to do weight training then do cardio and self workouts which are accessible on the youtube. Yoga is also really relaxing but its expensive!
I also find listening to music to be really stress relieving. Singing helps me to express my emotions in an non- harmful way and creative writing whether it be poems, memoirs or just scribbles of random quotes and letters to people I don't intend to send, also help with relieving and managing stress. Any form of creative expression is really helpful.
Ultimately, you want to do things that you enjoy and that also contribute to relaxing your mind and body.