How do you all handle stress?

[Huckleberry]

 Hey bunny friends, 

I need help. How do you all handle stress and depression? How do you all force yourselves out into the world every day? I am having a lot of trouble lately. 

 

[LBJ10]

Stress and depression are my middle name. That’s what grad school does to you. Haha!

Seriously though, nothing really helps. I just have to force myself to do stuff. My lack of motivation is really dragging me down.

Sorry, I’m not much help.

[emkvet]

Hey Huckleberry, I just PM’d you about this!

[FrankieFlash]

I’m sorry but I literally said out loud when I read this, “I don’t”. Meaning I suck at it. I used to use creative things as an outlet and it made me feel better but in my predicament it’s not going to. I probably shouldn’t say this but since none of you know me IRL I can admit that I’m seeking help. From a therapist. I need guidance on how to handle all the crap I’ve been through the last 2 years. The only thing I can say that might help you if the whole creative outlet thing is not your thing is that you’re not alone. You got me and LBJ and I’m sure some of the others on here.

Oh and bunnies being cute and not naughty help too! So make someone else deal with them when they’re being bad for a day and just focus on the cuteness! (this one I’m not so sure it’ll work)

And I tried this already but maybe you haven’t but try to set aside to do something for you and just you that will make you feel good. I set aside time (and money) to get my hair highlighted since seeing my hair in bad condition was adding to the stress and depression. Ok I’m out of ideas after that… but I tried! So try them if you can!

[Monkeybun]

Best way to deal with depression is to talk to someone about it. You can’t really deal with it on your own without sinking farther into it. Hope it gets better for you!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Depression can be a medical condition, caused by hormones that you can’t can’t control. Def talk to a doctor and see what they think! <3

[Tipsy Bunny]

I felt like I was in a slight bout for a while… I am definitely a stressful person sometimes, I have HIGH anxiety (I get anxiety attacks in crowded places, especially in malls and such). I have ADD and take Adderall XR for it and it does seem to help with my stress and organizing my thoughts and organizing my day to day schedule in my head so that it doesnt affect me as much. But my mom does have depression and it was too much for her to handle to the point where she has to take medication for it. Talk to your doctor about it. I am going to PM you too in just a moment.

[longhairmike]

i go out and run, bike, or goto the gym or play guitar if inside

try replacing your lights with full spectrum bulbs during wintertime. see if that cranks up your vitamin D levels.
I was on imipramine for seasonal affective disorder in high school, then i just started tanning in my 20s (after 30 i started using all shana’s moisturizers)
thats why chicago winters use to make me crash. then in summer im bouncing off the walls soaking up all the sun.

[LBJ10]

You know, I have found that talking to a therapist helps. However, the effects are temporary. In the past, I have been shooed away because I kept coming back. So I would resort to just switching between therapists. The only people who would let me keep coming back were the councilors at my undergrad school. I could see them for free. I can’t see anyone at my grad school because they charge and I can’t afford it at the moment.

[Huckleberry]

Thank you, all. This is a very special group of people 🙂 I feel very lucky.

[LittlePuffyTail]

This is really weird…I’ve been feeling super stressed lately and I just logged off a stress website and came here and saw your post. Here’s the site: http://www.tranquilityisyours.com

It seems helpful.  I haven’t had a chance to really look through it yet. Just bookmarked it.

How do I go on with my day while being super stressed out? I do it because I have no choice. Every day I wake up and say “Today is gonna be a relax day.  A good day. Everything is going to be okay. “

I try to stay positive, which can be very hard at times but I focus on happy things. When I’m super stressed I find nature is a great relief. Going for a walk on a wooded trail can be extremely therapeutic or even something simple like looking at the clouds or focusing on something pretty, like a tree or flowers.

Stress is completely devouring my life. Everything stresses me out. So much that I can’t even work right now. It causes me severe anxiety and panic attacks, paired with OCD. It’s awful and I can totally feel it’s effects on my physical health as well.

I’ve tried therapists and psychiatrists but I didn’t find them helpful. I guess I’m a very private person and don’t like opening up to strangers.

I want to get into Yoga. I’m big on natural stuff. I always wear an amethyst because they are said to have calming effects. Not sure if that’s true or not but it definitely can’t hurt (and they are pretty! ) I have pills I can take to relax me when I’m super stressed out but I hate taking them. I hate putting crap like that in my body.  I used to be on 3 different meds but I quit 2 of them.

Stress sucks.

Let’s all order one of these:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/33687076…_Ball.html

[Stickerbunny]

Regular old stress like a bad day at work, etc I find can be handled by just blowing off steam and looking at cute animal pictures lol but serious issues and real depression I always needed someone to talk to that I could let everything out to, if you don’t have any friends you trust that much, a professional could help.

[longhairmike]

words of encouragement from stanley spadowski. truer words have never been spoken

 

[RabbitPam]

How do you follow that???? LOL

Seriously, I believe there are two basic kinds of depression, “causal” depression and chemical depression. The first comes on as a result of something happening that caused it, like a death in the family or a relationship break up, job loss, something specific. When the cause goes away, like you meet a new boyfriend or get a new job, or just time passes, you get better. Chemical is a condition of the brain (often triggered by hormonal activity) that is an imbalance that shows symptoms of depression and you are diagnosed, given medication, and supposedly the chemistry eventually balances out. (Has to do with synapses firing off too frequently or at the wrong time, stuff like that.) That’s usually chronic, and some people get put on medication – under a doctor’s care and supervision – for long periods, like years. Anxiety is a different type of reaction, but both situations can apply there too.

Often the best help for causal depression and stress or anxiety is talk therapy. Studies have shown it to help measurably, in some cases equally as well as meds. So don’t feel stigmatized or there’s something wrong with you if you can’t “snap out of it” – go see a counselor or your doctor and get some help. Millions, I mean millions and millions, of people in this country – mostly women – are on some form of medication or in treatment for depression. It seems to be almost an epidemic. But the good news is that more and more practitioners are getting experience with treating it effectively so they are getting help for it. And by the way, they don’t have to be extremely high on the credentials scale to be good. An inexpensive LICSW (Licensed Social Worker) can be just as helpful for your needs as a psychiatrist for 3x the price. It’s only if you need a prescription that you need an MD. Therapists come in all kinds of specialties, so shop around. Depression is a killer. It’s worth getting help.

[Sarita]

LOL, that is deep Longhairmike :~)

I think that physical activity is good – take a nice long walk and just take everything in. It can clear your mind.

[Pandorachik]

I sometimes will go on a horseride. Wow~It just clears my mind and I foget what I was ticked about! Also think before you speak- others can be hurt by your mean words when your stressed. Or by your aggresivness.

[Elrohwen]

Pam, I loved your post!

As a child of two psychologists I have to add – seek out a therapist who uses CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The old style of talk therapy which some still practice mostly involves digging into your past and figuring out why you are the way you are. While this can be helpful for some people, for many it doesn’t solve any problems (it’s nice to know why you’re depressed, but you’re still depressed!). CBT doesn’t focus on why you’re depressed, just concrete things you can do to make yourself less depressed. It’s really effective for a variety of issues (anxiety, depression, etc).

CBT combined with meds is super effective for a lot of people. I think a combination of a therapist (can be a psychologist, social worker, etc) and a psychiatrist (for the meds) is a good combo – if you find the therapist first they often work with a psychiatrist who can help. Primary care doctors can prescribe things like Prozac as well, but they don’t have the specific training in which drugs to try so they might not be the best (though it can be a good place to start).

[jerseygirl]

{{{{Hugs}}}}} Casey.

Ditto on doctor check and counselling if things continue. (CBT! ^^)

Some simple stuff though is certainly getting out in the sun (before 11am is said to be best). So taking a walk, run whatever. Also look at diet D & B vitamin) and sleep. I believe you have or had some late night work hours and that certainly takes it toll after some time.
I’m a kind of person that knows all the things that would be good for me but have trouble doing them. :roll eyes: If I oblige myself to someone though, I’m more likely to do something.

Engaging in any activity is good as it takes you out of the cyclic though patterns that can take over. Theres not much room for that when you’re out doing something. If time allows, volunteering or helping others is a good way to help your own stress, so long as you’re not taking on their burdens. Being around animals or children I find helps. It might just be spending time walking someones dog or goofing around with kids that can give a lift.

[RabbitPam]

Elrohwen, I was trying to think of CTB but couldn’t remember the name so I didn’t mention it. Thanks for adding that, because that’s what I’ve heard about lately and it sounds very effective. (Might give it a try myself sometime. I need cheering up!)

[Huckleberry]

Thank you all, so much. I found that my school has full service therapy services provided by real doctors, not just students. The first visit is free and after that they are still very cheap. I am going to go later this week between classes.

Mike, thanks for the tip about the light bulbs, that might actually help. My apartment is a cave and I’m sure that doesn’t help. Also, that video was great, I really LOLed.

Pam, thank you. That clarification between the types of depression helps a lot. I think it is a long term problem.

Jersey, you are right, I do work late hours. Currently, I am only working the overnight job one night a week but it still really messes with my sleep schedule because it means a whole night of sleep missed.

To everyone else, thank you for the tips to go get active and seek help. Despite how much I do not want to do that, I feel like you are right and I need to.

[LoveChaCha]

Hugs

from what I know, you work a lot of hours, have so much homework load.

For stress: I pet chacha, work out at the gym, take a bubble bath.

[Huckleberry]

You know, I decided to go take a bubble bath…. I found that the tub has been clogged all day, so there is ice cold nasty gray water sitting there… Woo!!! I hope the drano works soon…

[RabbitPam]

And I meant CBT. No wonder I couldn’t think of it.

So glad you’re taking steps to get some help. AND new lightbulbs! Seasonal disorder is no joke.

(BTW, I think your bunny took a bath and didn’t clean up. They are such divas.)

[LittlePuffyTail]

That sucks about your bathtub. I couldn’t live without my bathtub. Nothing is better after a stressful day than a bubblebath with a candle lit or a good book. KissMyFace has a great brand of Shower Gel/BubbleBath that is all natural and smells so great. My fave is “Early to Bed”. It’s made with stuff that helps you relax. Very handy to have a bottle in the bathroom.

[Author]

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