Coping with stress and anxiety

HI all,

I'm hoping you guys have some suggestions.

I have a very on-the-go life. I have a VERY stressful (so stressful I'm thinking of quitting) full time job, and a business which I love but also now on top of everything gives me stress. I have a VERY stressful family situation going on revolving around where we might live, potentially buying a home (which we are NOT ready to do) and my mom not knowing how she'll pay her mortgage. I think the situations I have going on would probably make anyone stressed.

However, lately I just feel frozen with anxiety. It would help if I could get things done, but I can't. I am just frozen and I procrastinate, etc. The simplest thing seems like Mt. Everest at this moment. I haven't slept well since the home situation arose in November and I even went to the dr recently for bloodwork because i've been falling asleep and feeling so fatigued all day. He thinks it's just poor sleep. I wake up with a death grip on my mouth guard. I've been having headaches, etc.

I also haven't been eating much, but I'm gaining weight like crazy (Stress hormones?). I just don't feel like myself at all. I feel like a crazy person. I'm usually the person who is very calm in any kind of situation but I think it's the fact that it's ongoing long term day to day stress that's just wearing me out completely

Do you have anything that you do to cope with stress?

I guess I could ask my doctor for a prescription for xanax or something, but while I sometimes have been feeling "attacks", it's mostly a very high level of stress, all day. My DH says my forehead is constantly crinkled.

I'd love to exercise, but I'm having a hard time finding the time and energy. Trying to fit one more thing into my day is making me more anxious.

Do you have any advice? Are there any home remedies you use or any routines? I'm really thinking of quitting my job but that woudn't help the financial situation, and maybe I'd still be just as stressed. I don't know.

Thanks!

Coping with stress and anxiety

Would you consider seeing a therapist? I think sometimes having a neutral perons to hear you/vent to can help a lot. Someome who is not invested in what you are going through, the way you and your family are, can offer a new perspective and help you see your way through what is happening in your life right now. Even short term, I think it could help tremendously.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

I'm not sure. I know therapy helps a lot of people but I don't really want to talk about it. I'm tired of talking about what's going on. I just have a LOT on my plate and i think that would stress anyone. Plus the idea of trying to fit in one more thing every week is giving me hives

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

I was dealing with a lot of stress from work/life in the past few years and going to a therapist and having medication just in case I had intense attacks (I would NEVER recommend Xanax though, other Rx's are much better) has worked wonders for me. I know you say you don't want to talk about it but if you don't figure it all out, it may just haunt you later.

I happen to be a big proponent of therapy though, its brought me to a new place in my life and even when I'm working 50+ hour weeks, I do find time to work out, eat healthy, and sleep well.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

If you are set against a therapist, you may not want to be on meds though. Or at least I wouldn't. That's just masking the problem.

If you want a very natural approach, I'd recommend downloading a meditation app on your phone. It helps me.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Exercise helps sometimes. Can just zone out on the treadmill or dance around at a Zumba class.

Also when I was getting acupuncture for infertility, it helped soooooo much with relieving stress. I plan on actually returning soon.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Therapy and medication....when I was going through a VERY tough time, I saw a therapist and began taking Zoloft..and Xanax IF I needed it. There's nothing wrong with it if you need it in your life at that time...it helped me to see clearly and manage day to day. HTH

eta saw above message - acupuncture is amazing too!! I did for IF but I was so relaxed.

Message edited 3/22/2013 4:42:24 PM.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Chamomile tea

Eliminate any coffee/chocolate/caffeine.

As dh tries to remind me, don't worry about something until you have something to worry about. I tend to do the what if thinking. I have to stop that because it helps nothing.

Hth

Oh yeah eta rescue remedy. It's over the counter i think gnc has them

Message edited 3/22/2013 10:06:10 PM.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

Yoga, meditation, getting enough sleep and eating well help A LOT! I would not knock therapy till you tried it. Wellbutrin and Xanax have been life savers for me (I have serious depression and general anxiety disorder). I hope you feel better soon

Coping with stress and anxiety

I had a nervous breakdown related to work about three years ago and therapy helped a LOT. I was on Cymbalta and Zoloft but I had a lot of side effects related to them. Yoga didn't do a whole lot for me, but working out did, specifically cardio classes like Zumba. I've heard great things about meditation. I hope you feel better!

Coping with stress and anxiety

Have you considered biofeedback? It has worked wonders for my migraines and my stress levels. Here is the relaxation link to my therapist's web site:http://dawnbuse.com/relaxation.htm
I love the guided visual imagery- It really works for me.

Coping with stress and anxiety

I can't tell you how valuable therapy is. I am beyond busy but make this time each week for myself. I don't want to be on medication if I don't need to be but I knew I needed some help in dealing with my life stresses. My therapist is a Godsend and I truly look forward to that hour each week.

Coping with stress and anxiety

I have always loved the thoughtful posts you write, and I have admired you for them, therefore I feel sorry that you are so terribly stressed. I second the Camomile tea suggestion. It's been used for centuries. Try it before going to bed. I like mine with a bit of honey in it.

It sounds as if you should be looking for a different job. No one ought to be so stressed at work. Start the search now and don't feel guilty about it. There are more jobs available now than there have been in a while. Anyone would be lucky to have you work for them.

Sometimes stressful situations seem to cluster together, just as you are experiencing now. I have had that happen and it's never fun. I am taking care of some doozeys right now - trying to save Mom's house from foreclosure, supporting a sick and indigent relative, etc. - and they have me up at night and fretting during the day.

One thing I worry about is stress either causing illnesses or running our bodies down enough that illness can flourish. I just finished being treated for cancer which followed several periods of intense stress, so I have to wonder if the two are connected in some way. Some doctors say no, other think it's possible.

What I do think is that it is important to try to lessen any sort of stress. Excersize does seem to help so I drag myself to the gym. I walk a tread mill, row or use the eliptical. I can watch TV on two of them so time passes pleasantly and I feel nicely tired at the end, plus I catch up on the news. It does seem to be helping. I'm losing weight and gaining back a bit of shape lost to chemo, plus I am sleeping through the night - mostly.

As for therapy, I think it can be enormously helpful to have someone listen and help guide you through difficult periods. I have not done it, but both my sister and a cousin (for anxiety) have and also said therapy was a godsend. It helped both come to terms with issues and relationships they hadn't been able to understand. Think of it as medicine to help you.

Best wishes.

Re: Coping with stress and anxiety

A therapist may also be able to help you prioritize things that you can keep in your life, and things that should go. You also don't have to go for the rest of your life. When I was going through a situation awhile back, I saw the lady for maybe 5 or 6 sessions and we both felt I "met my goals".

I recommend yoga too.

I know when I don't go, I notice a big difference (negative) in my life.

I do get the feeling though of how it can be anxiety-provoking to add one more thing on your plate. I find myself avoiding it sometimes for this reason.

What are the things that are stressing you out at work? I go through similar cycles and notice that not having a support network all the time is a big trigger. My work can often be isolating and I piss a lot of people off because my position entails giving them MORE work.

Recently, another social worker has moved into my office with me and it's been a huge help.