So, how do YOU handle stress?

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

I handle stress very poorly. Tend to close down like an oyster. Get all defensive. Don't want to communicate anymore.

I have tried to change that. To no avail.

Aye, you and me both, m-to-the-h.

I suppose it's worth differentiating between "stress" and "depression", since, while related, I'd be describing different things if I make the distinction (which I perhaps haven't). I admit to a tendency, when under stress (that is, when something refuses to work), to...umm, breakages and rants to The Loved One (not "at...", though perhaps they sound like it?). Certainly I only break my own stuff, but I have been known to break things. Anger is something I'm not at all happy with about myself, knowing its a brittle shell over something(s) ugly or unresolved or faulty or studiously avoided by and in me: all the things about myself that I don't like (and thus we lead to the "depression" connection ).

I spend a lot of time on MR and elsewhere when I'm stressed.

Cheers,
Marc

[vivaldirules]

Right, depression for me is just another room down the short corridor I walk all the time. I get behind on tasks, which lead to anxieties and stress, which build up until I have sleepless nights, which then lead to anger, self-disgust, and "Oh, what the hell does it all matter anyway?" depression (Yoda had it a bit wrong, in my opinion). At that point, they play off one another for weeks or months until I somehow dig myself out or reboot. The key for me is to avoid getting behind in the first place and to realize when stresses and anxieties are building and deal with them (how is still a bit of mystery for me) quickly. But if I do that, I can pretty reliably avoid all the other pains. I wish I had learned it all long ago.

By the way, comforting things like tea, chocolate, food, MobileRead (Ahem!), time alone, time with friends, music, reading, etc. do not help but make things worse for me unless they are done, of course, in moderation as brief breaks between periods of calm but efficient productivity. I have often let myself indulge in this or that diversion and before long the day is over and now I am yet another day behind with more people disappointed or pissed at me and the number and ferocity of the demons at night just increases.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Right, depression for me is just another room down the short corridor I walk all the time. I get behind on tasks, which lead to anxieties and stress, which build up until I have sleepless nights, which then lead to anger, self-disgust, and "Oh, what the hell does it all matter anyway?" depression (Yoda had it a bit wrong, in my opinion). At that point, they play off one another for weeks or months until I somehow dig myself out or reboot. The key for me is to avoid getting behind in the first place and to realize when stresses and anxieties are building and deal with them (how is still a bit of mystery for me) quickly. But if I do that, I can pretty reliably avoid all the other pains. I wish I had learned it all long ago.

By the way, comforting things like tea, chocolate, food, MobileRead (Ahem!), time alone, time with friends, music, reading, etc. do not help but make things worse for me unless they are done, of course, in moderation as brief breaks between periods of calm but efficient productivity. I have often let myself indulge in this or that diversion and before long the day is over and now I am yet another day behind with more people disappointed or pissed at me and the number and ferocity of the demons at night just increases.

I think you are in my head!

[pshrynk]

When I get behind, I ask the all-time best question: "Will it matter ten years from now?" Since the answer is mostly "no" I get on with doing what I can and ignore the rest. That tends to piss of vice-presidents a bit, but they soon forget.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

When I get behind, I ask the all-time best question: "Will it matter ten years from now?" Since the answer is mostly "no" I get on with doing what I can and ignore the rest. That tends to piss of vice-presidents a bit, but they soon forget.

i'm going to write that in giant letters and tape it above my desk.

[Wetdogeared]

This job<-- would seem to be a bit less stressful.

They have gotten so many hits the first few days the site went down. They are going to cut off the number of applications at 30,000.

Being caretaker of Barrier Reef islands, keeping a blog of your daily events, short term committment, great pay...a great promo for Tourism in Oz.

I thought of you, Marc, when I saw this on our national news. People are going crazy (that's not what made me think of you) trying to apply for this job, creating and posting their own video appliations on utub.

Good morning all, WDE.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

This job<-- would seem to be a bit less stressful.

They have gotten so many hits the first few days the site went down. They are going to cut off the number of applications at 30,000.

Being caretaker of Barrier Reef islands, keeping a blog of your daily events, short term committment, great pay...a great promo for Tourism in Oz.

I thought of you, Marc, when I saw this on our national news. People are going crazy (that's not what made me think of you) trying to apply for this job, creating and posting their own video appliations on utub.

Good morning all, WDE.

sure it's not.

that does look like a pretty sweet job. i guess you have to know how to swim though. and probably the commute from paris would kill me.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

sure it's not.

that does look like a pretty sweet job. i guess you have to know how to swim though. and probably the commute from paris would kill me.

Crossing the international date line on a daily basis might get confusing also. It's eerily like the side effects of a ZCD (not that I'd know, I'm only guessing here), you don't have to go to work tomorrow because you already have. Or is it, you didn't go to work yesterday because it hasn't started yet.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Crossing the international date line on a daily basis might get confusing also. It's eerily like the side effects of a ZCD (not that I'd know, I'm only guessing here), you don't have to go to work tomorrow because you already have. Or is it, you didn't go to work yesterday because it hasn't started yet.

yeah, that kind of thing would drive me insane really quickly.

[pshrynk]

Soon as I get a video done, I'm applying for that job! Who do you think i should have play me? I'm thinking Tom Hanks, because I'd just have to beat Tom Cruise to a pulp if i cast him... I'm thinking Angelina Jolie for the Spousal unit mkIII role...

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Soon as I get a video done, I'm applying for that job! Who do you think i should have play me? I'm thinking Tom Hanks, because I'd just have to beat Tom Cruise to a pulp if i cast him... I'm thinking Angelina Jolie for the Spousal unit mkIII role...

Not Hanks, he's already done that Castaway thing hasn't he, or would that qualify as experience?

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Not Hanks, he's already done that Castaway thing hasn't he, or would that qualify as experience?

The job description says yo need a year of "relevant experience" I figure four years castaway on an island should count.

[zelda_pinwheel]

i see pshrynk has got this job all sewn up.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i see pshrynk has got this job all sewn up.

Yes, him and 30,000 others. But with his experience and connections (and current weather conditions in WI) I'd put him on the short list.

[Donnageddon]

"How do you handle stress?"

Masturbation.

Sometimes I get stressed two or three times a day!