Coping with stress

[mistys]

How do you cope with stress? I've had a lot of bad news in the last month and I'm struggling to deal with it all. I need to be there to support the people around me, but the pressure of everything is really getting to me. I'm having trouble sleeping (although this isn't unordinary really), getting bad headaches and feeling very down. I feel like I'm falling apart inside at a time when I need to be my strongest. Any ideas how I can cope with the stress of everything?

[Eve]

Can you go for some talking therapy? Just give youself a chance to get everything out which can be therapeutic in itself.

Letting yourself let go can be important, don't just bottle it to try and carry on, have a good cry if you need to.

Taking some time for you too, just have say an hour where you switch off from all the crap and do something for you like pampering.

Maybe before bed if you are having trouble sleeping and things like a nice relaxing bath then smothering yourself in a lovely smelling moisturiser then reading, a hot milky drink or some camomile tea etc... might help.

[terambulan]

Get away....walk/to the shops....have time for yourself. Know you only do your best, dont blame yourself of others probs. You need to discipline yourself to sleep to gather strength you need.

[sara3]

we all have to deal with bad news at times, but if you've really had a lot to take in, you don't have to pretend to be Super Woman/Man.

try to concentrate on one thing at a time instead of trying to do it all. keep it in context. bad things do happen and you can cope. take some deep breaths, look around you and be grateful for the good things, even if they seem quite small or insignificant.

talk to your friends (including us lot on here), but if it's really getting on top of you speak to your doctor. and remember that line, "this too will pass".. and it will.

take care x

[Squitty]

Like sara3 says it helps me if I deal with things one at a time - when I find this hard I write down a lot of stuff just so that I dont keep going over and over it.

[CAJ1]

Try and get a bit of fresh air, a walk will give you a bit of thinking time to yourself. Maybe try and talk to a friend about things as this can be a big help rather than bottling it all up. You could also try Rescue Remedy or White Chesnut which you can get in Boots and is meant to help at stressful times. And always remember when you hit rock bottom you have to come back up again at some point x

[mistys]

Thanks for the advice guys, I've just got off the phone to my sister. Told her I was struggling to deal with things and she is going to ask my mum to come stay with me. Hopefully if I have someone here with me I'll find things slightly easier if I feel the need to break.
I'm going to try and take an hour or so each day to get out and just relax my mind a bit.
It's hard to get a good nights sleep as I'm having to stay awake till pub closing time so I can do the lock up (I'm staying at my Nanna's - who has a pub). Then I find it hard to shut my brain off. I've tried relaxing tablets before, I'm not sure if they physically worked or if it was pscholgical (sp?) but I might have to try some again.

Anyway thank you all for helping.

[claraman]

We all have the answers to our own problems but sometimes we just cant see them because we're so busy trying to help and support others (as in your case). Sometimes just talking to someone can make us realise that the answers are right there in front of us. There's still a stigma attached to someone going for counselling but it can really help. We all need to unload our problems now and again. Its not good to keep everything bottled up inside. Its better to get it out every so often rather than letting it all build up.

[WhiteBear]

hey misty its me cuddleme. hope u r ok lots of hugs. i shall try and catch up with u when youre around! xxxxxxxxxxxx

[USALady]

As hard as it is to make yourself do it when you are feeling low, taking a walk or gardening is what i do to lift myself. It's amazing how much lighter I feel when I just take a brisk walk. It does seem to make the stress less especially if you can listen to music as you are walking. Gardening takes me away and I am in a world of my own while doing it and it really relieves the stress.

[mistys]

Thank you claraman, that was really good advice. I do tend to keep everything inside till it's too late and I do stupid things. I am lucky to have an amazing mother and can talk to her about everything. I guess I'm going to have to stop worrying about her and lean on her for a bit.

Hey Cuddles!!! Long time, sweetie. Hope I can catch up with you soon - xx

I'm staying near a beach atm, USAlady, so think I will grab my mp3 and go for a walk each day. I've not been leaving the house too much other than visits to the hospital so I think time to myself outside will be good.

Thank you again everyone. Sometimes it's easier to take advice from people you don't know.

[claraman]

Just another couple of things to consider mistys... Talking to a friend is totally different from talking to a trained professional (counsellor). A counsellor will steer the conversation in a certain direction as to allow you to see things in a different prespective and reveal the solutiions to some of your preblems. They will be able to read the signs of whats really stressing you and get to the bottom of it. Whereas a friend will also be of great help but they wont have the same understanding as a counsellor.

[mrs_overall]

http://www.thesite.org/healthandwellbeing/ment alhealth/anxietyandstress/copingwithstress