So I have always been a perfectionist, but lately I seem to be getting more and more extreme and suffering from a great amount of anxiety/stress. I'm not looking for a diagnosis or anything obviously because this is, of course, the internet, but I'm just looking for some ideas/thoughts about how to relax and stop worrying! What do you do?
but seriously, do you have a hobby or something you love to do that helps you forget about stress. Need to take the time to just get away from the world sometimes and forget everything.
Try to remember that if you died tomorrow, there would be someone somewhere out there that would be able to do what you do. I've recently realized that being a workaholic is seriously hindering my social life and i hate that more than the fact that i wasn't perfect at work today.
So, i decide that the sky is not falling if it's not perfect, i make plans for tasty sushi wtih friends or whatever, and be sure and have a glass of wine with that.
Then i thank myself for getting out and having fun.
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Exercise. A lot of anxiety comes from excess mental energy which can be released through physical exercise. Also, physical activity increases your endorphin levels, creating a natural calming effect.
Also, think about eliminating strong stimulants and depressants from your diet. Particularly caffeine and alcohol.
Just those two steps will restore chemical balance to your brain, peace to your soul, and turn you into a total bore.
But a much calmer and anxiety-free bore.
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If the anxiety/stress is to the point where it's affecting your day-to-day life, it might be time to talk to a professional (your doctor, a counsellor, someone along those lines).
I personally am a big fan of the spa as a treat, or a massage (some health plans cover massage/acupuncture, etc), or just getting out for a walk or coffee or drink with a good friend and chatting about anything and everything. I guess my suggestions are a little girly, but the massage/acupuncture thing can definitely benefit everyone in my opinion!!
Also I find camping really relaxing because you can take a whole weekend (or more) and do as little or as much as you want. I like a little hiking mixed with a lot of sitting in the sun and reading and sitting around the fire with friends. The fresh air is also nice.
Tequila. Lot's of good tequila. Not the crap they sell in the liquor stores here. Once I've got a good load of tequila on, I start contemplating the lives of people I know who really do have problems. At that point I stop worrying about my own petty problems, start listening to some of good music and get into some serious relaxation.
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I usually exercise quite regularly, but I haven't for the last two months, so I'm wondering if that's possibly related to my increased stress. April was also probably the worst month I've experienced, so that probably didn't help either.
If you hate your job change it, you may not realize how much you do. I had a low stress job but was dealing with anxiety because I hated it, knew I was squandering a large part of my life. You may not have anything really stressful that really justifies the feeling which makes it worse.
Also if you do have high blood pressure the drugs that lower can and do make a huge difference. I thought I was going crazy, every day I felt good, but by 10 am I just started getting tunnel vision and feeling awful. The doctor said that the blood pressure coming down would make me feel better and it totally did.
The doctor also said that some people swear by the anti anxiety drugs but we were both reticient to go to that stuff.
There is also certain personality types more prone and you know if you are the type. Also drinking may help temporarily alleviate but makes it worse the next day, so that doesn't work well.
Hey, speak for yourself. I've never found a problem I couldn't dissolve with a bottle of good hooch. I realize that doesn't work for everybody, but it works well from me. I've been able to quite successfully drown an ex-wife, a dad who died from pancreatic cancer and other sundry crap life likes to throw at a guy with a bottle of good scotch or tequila.
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So I have always been a perfectionist, but lately I seem to be getting more and more extreme and suffering from a great amount of anxiety/stress. I'm not looking for a diagnosis or anything obviously because this is, of course, the internet, but I'm just looking for some ideas/thoughts about how to relax and stop worrying! What do you do?
If it gets really bad, go to your doctor and they'll prescribe an SSRI or something similar that helps take the edge off. Otherwise, exercise before bed, less computer and I'd recommend starting a journal.
To clarify on my "talk to a professional" comment - I'd talk to a profesional with the intent to start down the path of counselling first before jumping straight to the meds. Some doctors are very quick to prescribe the meds without any other intervention and I'm not sure how much that really helps (I look to my own Mom as an example of meds but no counselling and it doesn't seem like the best option).
That being said, sometimes medications are necessary and there's no shame in getting help if/when necessary, as much as the meds are stigmatized sometimes.
Oh great, adding the responsibility of filling out a bloody journal at the end of every day like I didn't have enough on the plate.Why not have him itemize his pubes too.
To clarify on my "talk to a professional" comment - I'd talk to a profesional with the intent to start down the path of counselling first before jumping straight to the meds. Some doctors are very quick to prescribe the meds without any other intervention and I'm not sure how much that really helps (I look to my own Mom as an example of meds but no counselling and it doesn't seem like the best option).
That being said, sometimes medications are necessary and there's no shame in getting help if/when necessary, as much as the meds are stigmatized sometimes.
Well, blood pressure wasn't something I had even thought of! At my last appointment in April sometime it was decent, but it could have changed.
As for getting out and doing fun things, I feel like I TRY to, but I always seem to come back to worrying. As for the personality comment, I do tend to be quite paranoid. So that's probably a factor as well.
I'm reluctant to try medications, but my mother has suggested a therapist as well. So I'm thinking maybe with a combination of exercise, regular health check-up and talking to a therapist I will have success.
Haha I know CP is not a substitute for a doctor/therapist/whatever but it does help to talk it through! And maybe someone else will use the good advice in this thread as well.
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Thanks AC!
Last edited by kipperiggy; 07-26-2009 at 09:24 PM.
Dealing with anxiety/stress
