[Cheers]

It is no question that eliminating (yea, right) or at least decreasing stress is of up most importance for us skippers.

Curious how you guys do that? Or at least, how do you try?

My job, while it is from the comfort of my home and very part time, can be very stressful. I live in Wisconsin and am an editorial writer for a local news site. 90% of what I write is political. Again, I live in Wisconsin LOL...its a friggin battle ground right now. So, I get verbally assassinated on almost a daily basis. My parents are polar opposites of me politically, which normally wouldnt matter...but it has hurt our relationships this past year. And I have to deal with a psycho ex wife (not mine, my husband's) and their daughter whom I have been raising for 11 years.

SOOOO needless to say, I have my fair share of stress. And when I am skipping...I want to crawl into a hole because it is simply TOO MUCH.

Suggestions? Advice?

[DaniRae]

Happy Pills!!!! LMAO!

Walking and always making me time a huge one for me. The kids and I walk the dogs and I always make sure to enjoy a cup of vanilla tea at night. Always put aside 30 mins for me. You have to

[jkfrench]

I agree.....happy pills!
The best stress reliever for me is exercise. Even then, my mind works overtime, but I feel good afterward and that usually continues for the rest of the night.
It is hard. Stress is in our face every day. I also am dealing with crap and I know I need to make changes but I haven't and that stresses me out. Some people are just wired differently. Adreneline surges from stress just take a toll on me. Sorry, not much help. But exercise is really the best way to go!!

[Jeff]

Oh yeah. Politics can get so ugly, particularly for those who aren't even running. That has to be a hard job. Plus, having a job that is at home is a blessing and a curse - it's right there, which is great, except that it's right. there. all. the. time.

I can't tell you what will work for you, but I can tell you what works for me -

Like Dani said, happy pills are a start. I take a teeny tiny dose of Zoloft, some when I need it, none when I don't.

You time, like Dani said. And maybe most importantly, you time that you understand and believe is needed to maintain your sanity. In other words, no guilt. Understand that everyone benefits from a relaxed, happy, unstressed you, and so giving yourself time to do whatever it is you want to do is critical to that.

Exercise. I know - you'll get there. Baby steps, right?

A good night's rest. No coffee or alcohol a few hours before bed. Earplugs if someone is a snorer. Or better, earbuds on a relaxing music loop.

Being more organized.

Trying less hard to work harder. Set out achievable goals for the day, not impossible ones.

Forgive yourself if you don't get done the things you wanted to get done in a day. Don't double your efforts the next day to make up for it. Pretty soon you'll be trying to double times a jillion your effort, and it just can't be done.

Those are my things, anyway.

[CMoore416]

I avent found anything that works yet although I can't say I've made a valiant effort. My entire life is stress right now and I do absolutely nothing for me!

I still have issues with my husband, his job is a mes right now and so is his body. My kids are unhappy and fight and pout all the time. My daughter is an over achiever and very hard on herself. My son is a free spirit and energetic one. I have daily stressors of my job, no job, crappy car etc and then top on is while PVC thing and I can't manage the daily stressors!

So I'm still trying to figure it out.

[tom]

Christina, I read your post about leaving the Drs. office and the flight of stairs, my guess, just a guess mind you, I am not a medical professional, is that the stairs had nothing to do with the onset of PVC's. There are three types anxiety of response (1) those who get most anxious prior to the event (2) those that get most anxious during the event and (3) those that get most anxious after the event. When I got home from Vietnam and stepped of the plane, I couldn't stop shaking for 30 minutes. It is my understanding that category 3 types are the best candidates for hypnosis. ???. I think the doc was spot on about the exercise. It is a great stress reliever. I start with a few minutes of deep abdominal breathing before I start my runs.. started this a long time ago to get rid of pre race jitters. Xanax will act on the GABA in your brain, but not the cortisol that comes with "FEAR"... I think modest intervals would be a good program for you since the Dr. gave you the OK. That's 3 minutes at a very comfortable walk, then 3 minutes at a pace about 25% faster, then back to the slower pace (3 min), for about 30 minutes and then ending with the slower pace (total 33 minutes). Measure your pace by your breathing and feeling of exertion, and above all do not check your pulse for HR. Let your mind wander. Each week pick up each pace a bit by timing your route.

NLOL

[Katie]

Cheers I feel ya girlie. Ive got 2 kids under 4 that stay home with me. My father in law who speaks broken English has been living with me for the past 14 months and his wife comes every 6 months and stays 2-3 months at a time. On top of that my husband works as an accountant and auditor so right now he's gone for 14 hour work days. Some months he travels 5 weeks at a time and only home on weekends. Plus since I don't work he runs a business overseas. So when he is home he's skyping withall people overseas or running his business by computer. I cook dinner almost everynight and cook two separate meals since I'm allergic to ALOT of food. No one helps me with the house chores because my husband is gone and if here working and my father in law works night shift so sleeps all day. It sucks! When I shower it's with two kids, did I mention they sleep in bed with me too? I'm too tired at the end of the night to let them cry it out so whenever my husband comes to bed he moves the 4 year old out- but she always sneaks back in so I move to her toddler bed or sleep like a sardine with 4 in a queen size bed. . So yes life is stessful- but I love to take care of myself- if I can exercise I'll do yoga or pilates. I like to take an Epsom salt bath with lavander oil. I walk with my kids, I read magazines. I pray- Muslim so it's repetitive very relaxing motions. I've done acupuncture but I love getting a massage. I like to write to do lists and check them off. I DVR tv shows I like that are funny and watch them while giving my baby a bottle or folding laundry. But the best stress relief for me is being with my husband. I find the best comfort in him and my children. Their smells and faces and hands! My husband and I sometimes go out of town and spend the night at the beach which is always very romantic and nice. And like I said before if you don't use up that adrenaline then it only gets worse so sex, running up the steps, keeping busy etc has always helped me.

[Chaoticdopey]

so far my happy pills 10mg of celexa has been a life saver, 5 days after starting it my palps went away, i havent had any since, well little non-scary ones, i hope thos is not a remission thing and that these sobs are gone for a long long time, my skipping has subsided 10 fold since entroduced to celexa and xanax which i havent taken in a 3 weeks. so im starting to see it is all anxiety related, im just trying to figure out why the sudden onset, didnt have any stress

[Jeff]

@Chaotic - stress is tricky though. You can be adding bits of stress every single day and just not realize it. And then all of a sudden you're a mess and you can't understand why. That's how it happened to me, anyway.

[dr461]

Stress can be cumulative or situationally. I find that I tend to store up stresses and react after the fact. My instincts are to keep going, to the point of exhaustion, and then the stress gets to me big time. Exercise definitely helps. So does getting sufficient sleep, a good diet, and of course, my Xanax as needed--I am not shy about using them as directed and as needed.