Stress Overload

**Red Harvest** · 10-06-2005, 23:25

Originally Posted by Goofball

I tend to go with the "have a good workout" school of thought to relieve stress. It's free, it's good for you, and it makes you feel better.

If you want to be really hard core, try doing Bikram's yoga. I've been doing that lately and it's about the hardest workout I've ever had in my life. But man, does it feel good when it's over...

One of the main reasons to do a hard workout is that stress gets your body keyed up for exertion: fight or flight response. Working out is the natural outlet to burn off the excess.

I don't know how many of you have ever boxed, but it is the most intense workout I've ever come across (assuming you are doing it right.) The closest to it is probably swimming. Running or wrestling don't seem to burn as many calories (and keep in mind, I don't "jog", I RUN.)

Muay Thai boxing is an even tougher workout than standard boxing...features the sort of street fighting moves my dad taught me when I was growing up.

**Reverend Joe** · 10-07-2005, 00:09

Okay, tasteless jokes aside, I would suggest sitting somewhere calm, smoking a cigar and drinking a beer. One of the most relaxing things you can possibly do. Also, DO NOT INHALE THE CIGAR. Just puffing it is a lot more relaxing, and there is much less chance of getting sick.

If that doesn't work, then yes, I- notice I say I here- do like to smoke some grass. However, do not do this unless you are already comfortable with the practice. Don't assume you can just go smoke a joint for the first time and instantly feel relaxed. Anyone here who has smoked pot will tell you that is a very bad idea.

**Proletariat** · 10-07-2005, 00:13

I've smoked pot and it's a pretty stupid stress reliever. If you don't treat the root of the problem, you'll always get the symptoms.

Smoking pot or taking a hike or whatever is like putting whipcream on a puddle of vomit. You're only covering up the problem and when the whipcream's gone, you still have to grab the Ajax and deal with it.

**Reverend Joe** · 10-07-2005, 00:19

Originally Posted by Proletariat

I've smoked pot and it's a pretty stupid stress reliever. If you don't treat the root of the problem, you'll always get the symptoms.

Well, that's a given. But you need to be relaxed to deal with a problem, and occasionally the only way to do that is with a pipefull of grass. Again, that's not for everybody... that's just something that helps me.

Also, don't do that the night before a test. This may seem obvious, but you might be suprised.

**Papewaio** · 10-07-2005, 04:12

Treat the root cause, prioritise what you want to do and be and don't worry about the lower priorities until you have resolved the higher ones.

Just don't make an action plan and then ignore it.

Exercise tends to work as it is one of the first things dropped in a hectic lifestyle. Also the postive mood swing you can get from it can put a better perspective on the true magnitude of your issues. On the other hand if you are stressed and you have been sweating it out then a more serene change of scenes is better.

Spend some time each year thinking about what you have done and what you would like to do. Have some goals that you would feel good about achieving and be worth remembering.

Every year when I have to get my checkup for skin cancer it is a really good grounding to put my head back on straight. I try and repeat the thought process every 3 months and see where I would like to go.

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 10-07-2005, 04:21

Pape I think exercise can be more serene, you just need to do it right. A walk or run in the countryside can be very good for clearing your mind even if you lead a hectic life. I prefer woods and open fields myself, or maybe that's just because that's all there is in rural Vermont....

**Tribesman** · 10-07-2005, 12:35

Every year when I have to get my checkup for skin cancer it is a really good grounding to put my head back on straight. I try and repeat the thought process every 3 months and see where I would like to go.

Hey you are lucky Pape , I just had to wait over 2 years to get a biopsy done on 3 flat melanomas , even though the doctor told me that it MUST be done within two weeks .
Over two years of unneccasary stress .

**Reverend Joe** · 10-07-2005, 13:21

Obviously, the lesson here is that noone can tell anyone else how to relax. Grass really helps for me; for others, it is a horrible idea.

Tuff, you need to find your own way to relax.

By the way, what's with the name? TuffStuffMcGruff? That sounds like a frickin' narcotics agent. Don't you come near me.

**Papewaio** · 10-07-2005, 23:07

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Hey you are lucky Pape , I just had to wait over 2 years to get a biopsy done on 3 flat melanomas , even though the doctor told me that it MUST be done within two weeks .
Over two years of unneccasary stress .

It takes four to six weeks to book a specialist for my yearly checkups after getting a GP's referral.

The specialist costs about $150 Australian and the majority of that then gets paid by Medicare (government).

**Tribesman** · 10-07-2005, 01:23

Best stress relief , go out and catch a wave .

**Kaiser of Arabia** · 10-07-2005, 03:09

Yay for non-potheads. Mainly cause any form of inhaled smoke kills me. Like, literally.

Anyway, may I suggest a good Smirnoff? How about some good Becks?

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 10-07-2005, 03:39

I think GC is right here, it is best to do something that consumes your attention and then figure out whatever it is that is causing stress, or doing it while you play pool, or whatever. It seems to work very well.