I can usually handle it.

[KeithS]

Like the title says, I usually have no visible problem with stress and anxiety . I am the kind of person that hates to talk about my problems. My friends never really know when things are going bad in my life, I do everything I can to hide how I feel. It's just who I am. When I do get to that point I would only talk to this one person but a series of unfortunate events had lead us down separate paths and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. I posted another thread about my sleep problems, I know that stress isn't the cause of it but I know now that it is making it worse. I'm down to about 12 hours of sleep a week. I could just use some help with handling everything. I don't really know what I can do to lighten the load. I exercise to 'vent' but that's not enough anymore. Any tips on dealing with stress and anxiety?

I like to just lay on the carpet for a while. I would pet my cat but she is not the nicest thing.

[RT Wolf]

Write about it. I find journaling really helpful. Putting your feelings down on paper, especially to work through a problem or something has been shown to improve subjective happiness ratings and even improve immune system so you're healthier, in addition to figuring out the actual issue.

I didn't realize this for a long time but I was using my blog to explore my thoughts and feelings on various topics until I changed its focused. I now do most of my journaling by myself. I tend to write as if I'm speaking to someone but allow myself to ramble on and backtrack, etc without judging or editing.

I just wrote an entry involving that in my signature, the "I'm broke and homeless. now what?" one.

If you feel the need to vent, I'd imagine this is pretty anonymous, you can write about how you feel here, take as much space as you want. It'll help you feel better.

[SimonaRich]

You will never be able to be happy if you keep searching for external help. You have all the answers inside, you have enough power to overcome difficulties.

When you search for external help all you do is give power to someone else to judge what to do about your life.

You said that you had a friend who would listen to all your unfortunate stories. But what you are doing is complaining about life, and when you do that, you get more what you complained about. There is no point in complaining.

By complaining you want to show what a victim you are and that life is unfair and that everything is outside of your control. But it's the opposite. You will only realise that you are in complete control of everything in your life when you stop complaining and take a close look inside yourself.

[Angela]

Can you remember a time when you were handling things -- when you felt calm and confident and you could handle everything coming your way.

Tell us about it.

[philipnet]

Originally Posted by SimonaRich

You have all the answers inside, you have enough power to overcome difficulties.

SimonaRich's right.

I've been these myself and written rather depressing journal entries.
What I found was that my journal entries just went in circles and I ended up getting nowhere - fast!

But sometimes it's harder to see how you have the power to change your beliefs, thoughts and in the end your life. Unless you have someone/something to show you the path, how do you know you're on the right track?
Simple: you don't. You just have to measure your state the same way each day and figure out if what you're doing is moving you in the direction you want.

I'm loath to start recommending products (as least of all I don't know if that's frowned on here) but there are things out there to help start changing beliefs.

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny." (Mahatma Gandhi)

[The Cloud]

You're looking for stressors, and obviously you've found them. Addressing the symptoms does not influence the root cause, and the root cause is that you want to feel stressed. You want the internal drama of fighting against the stress, and even though one side of you is getting sick of it, the other side of you would much rather keep fighting than give up. The more you fight, the more you reinforce your stress.

[sk8joyful]

Originally Posted by KeithS

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. I posted another thread about my sleep problems. I'm down to about 12 hours of sleep a week. I could just use some help with handling everything. I don't really know what I can do to lighten the load. I exercise to 'vent' but that's not enough anymore. Any tips on dealing with stress and anxiety?

I like to just lay on the carpet for a while. I would pet my cat but she is not the nicest thing.

Animals are very sensitive to people's emotions, and they're stressing her too. but
did you know that all GOOD things start with BELIEF?
Really,
Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.
so -
Change your beliefs, and the rest of the success you want, will follow... Peace, Joy & Good-health are ALL inside you, all the time.

[codesmith]

I think stress is the parent word and anxiety is a subset.

So its anxiety youre dealing with.

When you're anxious it is mostly because you are not thinking rationally about things. My short advice is to find yourself some quiet thirty minutes, sit there comfortably, eyes closed whatever (in a meditative stance), and think about your life, situation etc very very logically, tie up any loose ends which make no sense, or has not be touched upon, make things fit in each other rationally.

In the end you will have a clear picture of what really needs to be done in your life, what attitudes you need to take up and what youre doing wrong so far in life.

[Lauxa]

When I'm feeling stressed what helps me sleep is to re-read a novel that I've already read once or twice. I just keep reading until the book drops out of my hands. If it's a new book, it keeps me engaged wondering what will happen next, but if I already know the plot I seldom make it more than 30 minutes or so. A late-night snack helps too.

I do better at steering my thoughts during the day, but I find that time just before sleep is prone to anxiety creeping in.

[KeithS]

Holy cow, look at all the replies! Hmmm

I should start a journal, if anything it may at least improve my writing skills (I write like a two year old).

SimonaRich although I agree with you about having all the answers inside although I don't think I complained to that person. I absolutely hate talking about my problems. Most of the time I wouldn't even talk about what was eating at me. I don't know why but just talking about the weather or anything calmed me down.

The Cloud, if I'm half and half like that then how do you just let it go?

Sk8joyful my beliefs are to just forget, move on and all that. I can do that fine it's just that I have to deal with something everyday. Oh, and about my cat, it is the meanest cat I have ever seen. Ever since it was a kitten it has been heartless, it use to chew on my fingers while I slept.

Overall I am feeling better, nothing has changed but it just seems easier now. I love how nice everybody is here, thanks for the suggestions everyone

[lifetimelearner]

have you actually seen a 2 year old write -not pretty

oh and we have a cat that's like that too instead of daisy we should have named her -hellion

I have found that the best way to journal-for me anyway-
is to do it first thing in the morning and write 2-3 pages of any thought that enters your mind


one of mine looks like this :

oh hell I have got to look for a job
no you don't
yes I do
I hate jobs
I wonder what to cook for dinner
uh I need some coffee
well do you hate money
I hate what it stands for
I feel guilty when I cannot buy the kids some new shoes that they need etc etc



do you get the drift -freeflowing -anything and everything that pops in your mind

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by KeithS

The Cloud, if I'm half and half like that then how do you just let it go?

There is no how. You either do, or you don't. It's not complicated, no matter how much you need it to be.