What are your favorite nonpharmaceutical methods of relieving stress?

[Connonym]

I'm starting to think there's no such thing as stress management. I'm not sure how to go about making life less stressful but I'm beginning to believe that modern day American life has many of us is in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight type anxiety that our bodies can't handle.

I'm burnt out.

[KitchenWitch]

1. Be conscious of your breathing.

Consciously breathe deeply trying to take 10-15 seconds per breathing cycle. Breathe so that your belly goes up and down.

[Gormy Cuss]

39. Good one.

That helped me overcome panic attacks when I was a youngin'

[Ptah]

2. I think back to my childhood

Life is still good

:hug:

[lligrd]

8. What A Great Photo

Looks like a very happy family.

[BarenakedLady]

3. I've often been contemplating asking the same question.

weird.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Connonym...

Some sexual activity helps...

Working out helps too...

I also find watching an extremely involving movie or TV program takes me out of myself, and relieves stress...

A great book can do it too...

:hug:

[quiet.american]

5. Deep breaths. A hot bath. Sleep. Music. Classic movies. Or, a fave comedy movie.

Not necessarily in that order. :) Hope you'll feel better soon.

[Broken_Hero]

6. hmm, a few things

Usually music, playing the guitar, reading, comics, or going through my magic the gathering collection...sometimes, going through old pictures calms me down a bit...reminds me of better times.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

7. When all else failed...

I read every good science fiction book in the local library.

[Callalily]

9. Exercise! n/t

[hellbound-liberal]

10. I did a 3-D jigsaw puzzle of the Sears Tower over Spring Break. It was very relaxing!

The John Hancock Tower is next!

[havocmom]

11. Day long walk in the mountains

Since that is not possible often enough, music is more frequently relied upon as my 'drug of choice'.

[RebelOne]

12. Drinking a bottle of wine does wonders.

[Perry Logan]

13. A hot bath can loosen you up.

[1gobluedem]

14. Soaking in a hot tub

I used to like to take a long drive until the gas prices began to skyrocket.

Gardening helps me too. Or just sitting outside with a book.

[ThomCat]

15. An hour on a massage table.

and then dinner with friends. :thumbsup:

[HERVEPA]

16. Dancing!

[Fleshdancer]

17. exercise in the morning and 8hrs of sleep at night

I also notice a HUGE difference when I cut processed and fast foods from my diet.

As far as rituals go, I love to curl up to a good book and a cup of chamomile tea an hour or so before bed.

[tjwmason]

18. Music

Usually either pretty intense atonal modern French organ music or renaissance polyphony.

[hobbit709]

19. I think about the perspective

"The human dream doesn't mean shit to a tree."

[The2ndWheel]

20. Unplugging the clock

The ticking clocks are bad enough, but when you get the relentlessly silent forward motion of digits, that'll make you crazy.

[bif]

21. A long walk does it for me.

Especially if I'm listening to some relaxing music on my iPod.

[CBHagman]

22. It used to be going to the theater with a friend.

I lived in a city with an active theater community and affordable tickets to good productions, so every now and then I would have a night out with one of my friends.

The principle is applicable across the board: Do something fun with a friend/partner/family member. This can be tailored to all sorts of budgets and interests. I used to spend a lot of time in diners drinking coffee and schmoozing with friends.

[datasuspect]

23. whoopin ass

[MorningGlow]

24. A little bit of chocolate

And a movie on video--the cheesier the better. At first it's hard to sit still if you think you "should be" doing other things, but if you ride out that phase and realize the world won't end if you sit still a while, you actually enjoy the cheese and forget about the stressful aspects of your life for a bit.

[NJmaverick]

25. I have tried them all

Soaking in the tub is a good one

Yoga can be helpful

Steneous excercise can sometimes help

A really absorbing video or computer game can be great. This can totally take your mind of the stress and problems and can be like a mini-mental vacation

Lately I have been working on stress reduction. Learning to change my mind set, so I don't stress over things I have no control over.

[Dora]

26. Ideas

Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake.

Take epsom salt baths.

Exercise, even if only five minutes.

Get 15 minutes of morning sunlight each day so your body can create Vit. D.

Eliminate stressful messages from your life - violent tv shows/movies, dramas about interpersonal conflict.

Put positive messages into your life - affirmation cards, art that is pleasing, music, aromatherapy.

Create a routine, break your routine.

[KG]

27. other than mastrebation and marjeewaner?

nothing.

[raccoon]

28. Watching GILLIGAN'S ISLAND on DVD did it for me. Or something else mindless

that appeals to you.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

29. Petting the dog.

I hear cats work for that, too.

[Midlodemocrat]

30. I find that scented candles and the sound of moving water are

really great for relieving stress. I use them in my office all the time.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. yoga. (regular not power) and sex.

[BlueIris]

32. Good music, and my beloved flower essences:

I like a variety of those things, but here are some of the more popular ones, in case you're not familiar:

http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm

[ghostsofgiants]

33. Music and skateboarding.

[Iggo]

34. Breathe, smile, laugh...

...and when you have to, close the garage door and crank the tube amp up past 50%.

[madinmaryland]

35. Sex.

:shrug:

[BOSSHOG]

36. Running three or four days a week

Just get away from it all. Work your way up to a ten mile run and at least for a short time, stress will be non-existent. Give it a try.

[Miss Carly]

37. meditation

Carly

[Red State Rebel]

38. Rocking a Baby....nothing like it!

I work in an Early Childhood Education Center and when I get stressed I go to the infant room and play with a baby. Works every time!

[grannylib]

40. I walk in the woods or sit by the campfire (in nice weather) and

when it's crappy or winter, I do crafts.
Weeding the garden in spring/summer is great; I can get a whole lotta frustration out by pulling up weeds, all of them named after my boss.