After quite a bit of somewhat 'seasonal' stress, it got me thinking about starting a thread where everyone can share their coping techniques for stress in general.
I thought it could be useful to help each other with ideas that we may not have thought of. When I am stressed, a session with Mr Scorpius helps no end, but unfortunately that is not always possible - lol. I try very hard to only worry about a situation as and when it arises, but that is sometimes easier said than done!
From watching a great movie to digging up the garden with vigour, let's share the techniques you have found to try to make life a little easier 😀 xx
I am an ex self harmer and now an ex smoker *insert jazz hands here* so have had to find new coping strategies. Ice cream and pizza were always my go to but seeing my waistline expand has thrown me off that *can I get a hallelujah* so now I breathe. It sounds ridiculous but I take time just to sit and concentrate on my breathing. If its really bad I will crochet, paint, draw, sew a new dress. Also, I have a book called "wreck this journal". Its full of ridiculous tasks to wreck the journal. It is a stress buster! One of my favourite pages was "tie a string around this journal an swing it around hitting it off of walls" that was fun!
Baking, writing and watching films I've seen a million times before and love. Depending what it is, I find planning for all outcomes helps. E.g. If I get on the course, how will I afford my rent? If I don't get on the course, what's my backup career? If I have options then whatever happens I know I will be ok.
In reality I often just ignore the anxiety until I'm paralysed by it. That's especially true when it's something like a presentation, uni essay or interview. If I just calmed down I'd be ok but I drive myself into a frenzy.
I take each day as it comes, I live on stress so wheen I try to relax my body goes into shock & feel poorly. When I want to destress and not feel bad I go out for a run or play video games, or read/go for a nap.
I used to smoke to relax but it just made things worse, I'm back in therapy to cope with stress/anxiety and am starting stress control classes in Jan.
Some great ideas here. RosieCheek your book sounds brilliant - you did make me laugh when I read what your favourite page was. I think I am going to have to get one of these!  xx
I sleep if it gets too much. Then sit down a make a list of things to do to overcome whatever is causing the stress, or speak to someone for advice if I can't manage.
I write sometimes. Seeing as I write for a living it might seem strange, but it's a different style of writing I use for stress relief. It's more silly, stupid and not focused on plot at all. It never gets published but it might help me generate an idea to write about. I can make the characters scream at each other, act out a couple falling in (or out of) love, generally rant about the injustices of the world, or, more recently, be roped into writing some silly food porn. Smh. It's quite hilarious actually.
My advice, whether you can 'write' or not, is to just get the words down on whatever medium you want. Just start talking. Pissed at someone? Write them a letter that'll never get sent. Bad situation? Write about how you could get yourself out of it whether it's realistic or not.
Sometimes you don't realise how much it could help until it does. I once started writing an autobiography just to get it down, got up to age 14 and then spent the next two days crying. It was horrible but it was also cathartic.
Hope someone can find some use out of my own way to de-stress/unload. xxx
Music. It's always music for me. Because if I can find a song that speaks to me, that describes perfectly how I'm feeling, I know I'm not alone, and that I'm not the only person that has struggled, because somebody else has felt the same and written a song about it. Also I write, I'm a proper little emo still from my teenage years 😂 I've removed the self harm but will still write emotive poetry, and doodle too, I love doodling!
Right so it's a well known fact amongst the forum (and people that know me in general), that I have had an abnormal upbringing. But while doing my GCSE exams o was so stressed my hair fell out. It was after these exams and the sheer amount of stress and expectations that I sought a coping strategy for life.
i found it some years later, via a very old man who hypnotised me to help me get over my exam nerves. He also taught me while hypnotised how to creat a mental safe place. So if I'm stressed or struggling to cope with emotions, I go to my mental safe place. I was taught a physical trigger too.
I understand this sounds very odd, but it really does work. Sorry if it's not very helpful to others.