How to lower stress

(Heather Meyer) #1

I have to face the facts. I can now admit that i am stressed. I am going through marriage issues and its causing lots of stress. My eating is okay and I am working out often to help cope with it but i think my workouts might be adding a little stress too… Point blank: how do you reduce stress and cortisol levels?? I dont want to start stress gaining and clearly eating is not a good coping technique. I am not really one to meditate and I am not a yoga person… Thoughts??

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

When things get bad for me the headphones don’t come off, immersing myself in music that makes me feel good is my solution, and cannabis doesn’t hurt either! And staying busy. Things will get better one way or another, most things are temporary in life. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Heather Meyer) #3

i wish i could do the cbd thing honestly…but im allergic…very allergic.
Yes i tend to immerse myself in headphones

(Full Metal KETO AF) #4

Allergy to cannabis is unfortunate. :confused:

I hope things look up for you soon Heather. :cowboy_hat_face:

(Bacon is a many-splendoured thing) #5

Before my knee joints gave out, running used to be a good stress-reducer for me. A lot of my current stress is at home, so getting out of the house to somewhere I can read or people-watch helps a lot. There’s also this thing called “outdoors” that a lot of people like, but I couldn’t tell you much about that . . . :grinning:

(Heather Meyer) #6

I actually went to the gym for 2.5 hours…thats how angry i felt… Cant say it helped me long term. I could have gone again

#7

Sorry to hear about the stress (and the cause of it), Heather. That is difficult, and not something that solves itself overnight. Finding a way to deal with it long term is a tall order. I’ve found a few different things that helped me deal with stress.
I don’t meditate or yoga…my mind just goes right to chocolate, or thinking about my brother’s/mom’s/dad’s deaths. So, I do deep breathing. Inhale for 7 seconds; hold it for 10 seconds, slowly exhale for 8-9 seconds. Do this a few times.
When I go into a panic sort of mode, I grab a glass of ice water, and then go for a long walk. The shock of the icy cold water seems to bring me back to my senses, and calms me. Walking gets me out of the situation I’m in.
Next is driving. Partly because it just feels SO good to settle in behind the wheel, then accelerate and go wherever I want. (Accelerating is really the best!) The other reason… because the car becomes my own personal music auditorium. So, as @David_Stilley said, music. And, the music you pick can change your mood and sway your feelings. A good listen to Maynard Ferguson can transport mood and feelings, Pat Methany, Boz Skaggs Bob Seger, Aretha, Aerosmith, any and all Motown, classical, religious, whatever you like.

For the deeply emotional times, though…I’d definitely not recommend driving. My escape during those times (and I’ve had a lot of them), was making the short trip to the farm, and climb my favorite hill. Once I got to the top edge, there’s a group of apple trees off to the left side, and I’d sit under there and just cry. Then, pray for a long time. The sun would eventually peak through the clouds, dry the tears, and somehow that whole process would just refresh and strengthen me. There’s nature paths and parks that make great spots for that, if you don’t have a farm or large yard to retreat to.
*Just be careful if you go somewhere -familiar or not. Even if I go to the farm, I carry. There are large, fuzzy predator - animals with big teeth down there, just like there are human predators in other places. So be safe, whatever you choose.
Hugs and happy thoughts going out to you!!!

(Full Metal KETO AF) #8

Blowing off about 50 rounds is great stress relief, and empowering. :cowboy_hat_face:

(K-9 Handler/Trainer, PSD/EP Specialist, Veteran) #9

50 is just the warmup!

(Susan) #10

Being a Canadian, I have never ever ever even seen a real life gun (except in museums behind glass that are not loaded and might not even work). @PortHardy (Heather) is also from Canada so might not have ever seen or own one either… just saying! It is usually only Americans that have them. I don’t know anyone that owns one here.

She has so much stress atm -Hugs Heather, I know it is really hard atm.

(more info on her accountability).

(Will knit for bacon. ) #11

Knitting has been shown to induce a meditative state. I know when I’m feeling stressed and my brain is screaming knitting calms me down and untangles my thoughts. Sometimes all I need is a hit of lanolin fumes from good sheepy wool and I’m happy.

Bonus: If it’s some other person causing you stress, you’re now holding pointy sticks.

(Susan) #12

Hehehehehe -this is awesome… =). They won’t stand there arguing with you for long!!

#13

You might research Saffron…we ordered some from The Naked Pharmacy in England (we are in the US, but order process and shipment was flawless), after reading about potential benefits for Asperger’s/Autism/ADHD - I have since seen many mentions and reviews about it relieving stress and having a calming effect for emotional wellness. Anecdotally, so far seeing HUGE difference for our little one shortly after he has it.

#14

:joy: :rofl: :laughing:

#15

Wanted to post an update in case anyone else was thinking of trying Saffron for calming effects…it appears to have (for unknown reasons) an observable rebound effect when it wears off (for our son at least). Something to keep in mind :face_with_monocle:

#16

Ashwagandha is a supplement that is supposed to be good for lowering anxiety and, specifically, cortisol levels. Personally, I felt like it did help for some stressful days. You can get the “KSM-66” variety off Amazon or from a local supplement/healthfood store. KSM-66 is the branded method of extraction. It would be worth a shot!

(Scott) #17

I like to get up before anyone else is up and go for a walk or run. Sometimes music but lately I have been playing 2ketodudes podcast starting at episode one. It is also a good time to reflect and clear my head. I have a small business that I am never allowed to get to far away from. When out I tend to think positive thoughts that are more like problem solving and organizing. It gets me away from getting worked up and self destructive. Hopefully you can work through this difficult patch. I have had a few along the way and glad I pushed through to the other side. Coming up on 39th anniversary and glad the wife and I are still together.

(Susan) #18

Congratsssss !!! That is great! (hubby and me just past 29, 10 years behind you).

(K-9 Handler/Trainer, PSD/EP Specialist, Veteran) #19

Ashwagandha is a staple of mine. It’s a proven adaptogen. Very much worth a try.

#20

I’ve heard this really helps some people, but I am allergic to nightshades and Ashwagandha is a nightshade.