• silverwhisper said on Aug 29, 2006....

  honestly, i find that interaction w/ the likeminded about any subject that really engages my interest has that effect. that's part of why i'm such an addict here.
  
  hi, my name is silverwhisper, and i'm a blogging addict.
  
  ed
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 29, 2006....

  Oh I get it and Soulcasting is supposed to be destressing? Shouldn't it be like, we should be detoxified from blogging addiction? :)
  

• silverwhisper said on Aug 29, 2006....

  er...i plead the fifth. :>
  
  ed
  

• secretlife said on Aug 29, 2006....

  If I get too stressed, I literally FREEZE.
  
  I'm a walker, so a nice long walk usually helps me.
  Silly as it may sound I also think deep breathing works.
  And since I can sleep on a bed of nails, when all else fails, I sleep.
  

• mobil said on Aug 29, 2006....

  Hey; all stress is between the ears, it manifests itself
  in other places. BUT, it all comes from the brain pan.
  First one has to figure out exactly what is causing
  the stress.
  
  It's not fatigue, fatigue can actually reduce stress.
  It's about how our brain handles information and worry.
  Yes, walking helps as does a whole bunch of other
  activities that keep our gray matter's attention away
  from those things that cause stress in the first place.
  Getting to know the processes that produce stress
  is the first step to destressing as you call it.
  
  Set up some speed bumps in your head, speed bumps
  to warn you of the danger and change the direction
  of your thought.
  
  Then, take that walk, swim, drive whatever sooths your
  soul. It's all in your head man !
  
  mobil
  

• allaroundgirl said on Aug 29, 2006....

  To destress I take a day, moment to myself. If a day I try to do things I enjoy...read a good book, catch a movie, SLEEP even excersise sometimes and if its merely a moment a deep breath, positive thinking and try to look forward to something ;)
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 29, 2006....

  Secretlife Allaroundgirl: Sometimes I do find that when I'm so overstressed out, a good sleep will help me recharge.
  
  Mobil: Very good point, it's how the brain handles the stressful situation that makes the difference. Maybe a change of thinking patterns from negative to positive might do wonders.
  
  Thanks for your advice, I'm assimilating all of them!
  

• mobil said on Aug 29, 2006....

  It might, but that's not what I am talking about FD.
  I am telling you to take charge of your thoughts.
  Understand how and why you think and worry in certain
  ways Stop those revolving thought patterns that cause
  stress in the first place.
  The speed bumps I talked about are like this, in a
  simple format. Say you are thinking about a specific
  concern, lets say a public speaking engagement coming
  up, just to use as an example.
  Your mind will roll this around, like a tape playing in a loop
  you need to stop the loop. To do that you need to be
  conscious that your mind is doing this. Have a alternate
  more pleasant thuoght held in reserve. Insert this thought
  in place of the more unpleasant public speaking cocern.
  This sounds corny, but it works, not on the first try, but
  you can train the mind to reduce the amount of stress it
  produces. Can't eliminate all of it, but this works for me
  FD. Kind of a self induced bio-feedback. Oh, if you have
  the time, a nap is a killer for riding the body of stress.
  Don't have to fall asleep, simply lay in a quiet place with
  your eyes closed. Caution, no thinking whatsoever while
  enjoying this activity.
  
  Hope the helps
  mobil
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 29, 2006....

  So I get it more clearly, it's a bit like approaching a stressful situation in a different frame of mind than what it was used to. It's reprogramming the approach. Thanks Mobil, that really helps! :D
  

• GrapeKoolaid said on Aug 29, 2006....

  Sometimes, I fold. Just take my ball and go home. >:P
  
  No, I kid. (Joking, and laughing about things is usually the way I destress)
  
  As to relaxation, I have many techniques.
  
  If I may suggest the following:
  
  http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/15384/Welcome-to-the-couch.
  
  and:
  
  http://www.soulcast.com/post/show/18590/Your-quiet-garden.
  
  Submitted for your consideration,
  
  Grape.
  

• qriusblogr said on Aug 29, 2006....

  try having a massage. shiatsu, swedish, thai, whatever. you can visit a spa and get the works, or if someone around the house knows a little about this, it'll be great, too.
  
  clear your mind while at it and just enjoy the sensations a good massage brings.
  

• ninibud92 said on Aug 29, 2006....

  Unfortunately for my waistline, I dive into a bowl of ice cream!
  
  Vanilla with chocolate syrup, whipped cream and a cherry!
  
  Yum!
  

• Zayda said on Aug 29, 2006....

  if i get really stressed i either do like silver does and talk to people who are like minded about subjects that engage me, or i meditate and do yoga.
  

• essocharis said on Aug 30, 2006....

  green tea and zazen @_@
  

• JadeLondon said on Aug 30, 2006....

  ~A hot bath or shower
  
  ~Some form of reading material
  
  ~Writing
  
  ~A walk
  
  ~Napping with my children
  
  ~SoulCast
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Grape: I'll check out and study your relaxation techniques.
  
  Griusblogr: I was thinking of going to a spa but then the costs may be prohibitive to do on a prolonged stress condition. But it surely does help one to sleep relaxed and peacefully.
  
  Ninibud: You know what I enjoy ice cream so much I take it even whem I'm not stressed out. But it does help to cool down your temper especially when the flavor is your all time favorite Hagen Daz strawberries in cream.
  
  Zayda: Isn't yoga techniques something to be learned and mastered before any real benefits can be felt?
  
  Essocharis: Green Tea with delicious English tea biscuits specially the butter shortbread variety. Hmm beginning to go look for one already.
  
  Jade: Yes to lukewarm shower, soulcast is also therapeutic as it deviates your stressful attention to dear SC friends such as everyone here. An intimate soulful prayer helps to sometimes clear one's mind.
  
  FD says thank you to everyone for your kind suggestions, I will print this out as my checklist on stress management. Best of all, a nice friendly chat with my Soulcaster friends help me realize that in problematic times, I'm not alone.
  (FD hugs each one of you) :>
  

• quidnunc said on Aug 30, 2006....

  my wife and i head off to get a good massage at our favorite spa. we always complement it by going to the other spa for the soul -- a chapel or a church. the combination always works!
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Advise well taken thanks quidnunc. Troubles of the soul can only be appeased by talking to God in prayers.
  

• WhyChromosome said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Well, I'm very lucky. I just hold my wife and she holds me and we say "I love you."
  
  All the stress just seems to go away...
  

• labyrinth said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Good for you WhyC. You're a very lucky guy.
  
  Tennis does it for me.
  

• Dazlak said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Yoga...
  
  If it is going very tought then a few minutes of yoga practises is what helps me.
  
  But if it just normal stress.. then it is to sit and relax.. hopefully with good company or a good book.
  

• pinkjellybeans said on Aug 30, 2006....

  If I get very stressed I make a cup of tea and give my baby a cuddle. I then try to rationalize everything: am I dying? is my baby dying? do I have a warm home? am I safe? Then I tell myself not to be stressed before breaking down the problem into smaller chunks which are easier to deal with.
  
  If my husband holds me, that then makes everything disappear. No stress. Everything is manageable.
  
  PinkJellyBeans
  

• scalywag said on Aug 30, 2006....

  I often internalize stress and for some reason allow it to build up. My wife usually notices when I'm at the breaking point just by my mannerisms; then she'll start some dialogue as to why I'm stressing. Destressing is usually just a matter of re-focusing of my thoughts and resolving things that are bothering me. As some have mentioned, chats with like-minded people can ease the stress. Again, it's a re-focusing of thoughts.
  
  The thing is, I find it difficult to:
  - notice I'm stressing before it builds up too much
  - re-focus my thoughts without interaction with another
  
  I'm starting to learn, though, that I can find power in my own written word; I just have to write it down first.
  
  Sleep when stressed? Not me; stress is the cause of most of my sleep loss.
  

• Zayda said on Aug 30, 2006....

  FD: Actually, learning just a few basic yoga poses can help reduce stress, IMHO. But then, whether you need to master the techniques before you reap any benefits is difficult for me to answer since I have been practicing yoga for several years now. I also do pilates.
  
  I'm trying to remember back when I started practicing yoga.
  
  Now, I find that it's pretty much an immediate way to de-stress simply because of the breathing techniques involved.
  
  There are different styles of yoga, btw. Some more intense in terms of the stress on muscles than others.
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Just reading through all your wonderful suggestions on how to destress onself is already relieving and taking away my stress. I think the genuine support extended by each one to needy fellow members is what makes Soulcast a very unique community in itself.
  
  For I truly feel all of you as an online family ready and willing to help everyone out in their time of need. All of your thoughtful comments and supportive suggestions are my greatest stress removers. Thanks again destress mates!
  

• purple said on Aug 30, 2006....

  I find it takes balance. Stress comes from being out of balance. For example, the cure for physical stress is doing something intellectual. The cure for mental stress is doing something physical.
  I disagree that stress is only in the mind. If you have an injury, or your spine is out of alignment, or you have P.M.S. that stress affects your body and your brain, and positive thoughts won't do much. Some people burst into tears during a massage, because the muscle being rubbed is holding on to some emotional stress, maybe even from years ago. You can use your mind to relax your body, but you can also use your body to relax your mind. That is why I dance to relieve stress. I take deep breaths to send cleansing oxygen throughout my body.
  My criteria for the best stress relievers are simple. If I do this activity to relieve stress will I feel better from it in five years?
  So by that criteria, yoga, dance, self-hypnosis, exercise and journaling will stand me in good stead five years from now.
  Overeating, over-drinking, drugs or taking dangerous sexual risks will not.
  And if you are stuck in a city, please make sure you spend some of your day in a natural place, like a forest, or a beach or a park if you have no other choice. Humans were meant to be outdoors. Do it near water if possible. The negative ions are helpful.
  And do your best to avoid toxic people.
  

• lidstrom82 said on Aug 30, 2006....

  I try to nap, watch a movie, find funny videos on Youtube, listen to music, or other things.
  
  Lately, most of my stress is at work, at which I can do none of the above things. So I've been praying intermittently throughout the day. Even if I'm by myself, I can have a conversation with God and get all the junk spoken or thought out like I would in telling anybody. Plus, it's comforting that God is behind the scenes working in me and other people to bring me relief from stress in ways that are unexpected but usually better than I expected.
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Aug 30, 2006....

  Purple: And do your best to avoid toxic people. You said it nicely, like their toxicity is contaminating and poisonous.
  
  Lidstrom: Plus, it's comforting that God is behind the scenes working in me and other people to bring me relief from stress in ways that are unexpected but usually better than I expected.
  
  God is indeed the ultimate stress reliever, He takes away your sorrows and pains and wipes the tears from your eyes.
  
  Just going thru your comments is like a stress removal therapy for me already. I'm slowly recovering from my stressful anxieties. Thanks everyone! :D
  

• raft said on Aug 30, 2006....

  I've made a decision to walk to and from work every day, it was part of my "get healthy and shed some pounds" plan. I'm still waiting for the second to kick in.
  
  The added bonus is that I have a whole hour of walking to think things through. I stress only when I have unresolved issues (no duh) without a plan of actions to resolve them.
  
  So I'll fuss until I figure what I'll do. Being able to think freely for 30 mins at a time (morn, afternoon), has been a great destresser.
  
  I work in an office environment. I rarely get physical stress. I'm a fairly strong individual and I know my limitations so, that has rarely been an issue.
  

• boycie said on Sep 04, 2006....

  Oh, well, DRINK ALCOHOL!
  
  God gave us alcohol to go through tough times. It's us people that took that nice habit and turned it into addiction and other sorts of not good behaviour.
  
  But trust me, getting drunk from time to time to get your worries of your shoulder at least for some time definitely works.
  
  Now combine that with one other suggestion to spend time with people close to you, "love thy neighbour", and you have the ultimate solution to solving stress.
  
  Go out with someone whose company you enjoy, you both get wasted, and life will look much brighter. :)
  

• ayinkurie said on Sep 05, 2006....

  1st Soulcast - if available. Lot of friends. And their post may help to solve the problems.
  2nd A Stroll in the park/Walk slowly in shopping mall
  3rd Movie - right timing and story
  4th TV
  5th A good shower with destress shampoo and shower gel(Palmolive). Let the water flow massage your head and body.
  6th Sleep - the ultimate solution.
  7th Malay Traditional Massage
  

• FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 06, 2006....

  Raft: At the most, walking can get you physically tired enough to sleep the day off and forget your stress temporarily.
  
  Boycie: Tried booze but you end up getting hangups and a nauseous feeling the day after.
  
  AyinKurie: Soulcast is indeed the ultimate destresser. The community of friends online is available to offer you that much needed help.
  

• Frlncwrtr said on Sep 09, 2006....

  Hi FD:
  I know it’s been awhile, sorry about that! I hope all is well now because I am kinda late responding to this. I agree with secretlife on the deep breathing and with she, allaroundgirl, mobil, and ayinkurie regarding sleep.
  
  As with scalawag, I often internalize stress, and it takes a little outside help to rid myself of it.
  
  qriusblogr’s, and ayinkurie’s idea of massage works well for me. The best way for me to destress is when my fiancée realizes that I’m stressed out and she gives me a nice long massage. Nothing calms me more than her touch.
  
  Like Whychromosone and pinkjellybeans, we often lay in bed together holding each other, or merely holding hands, and talking about whatever the issue may be.
  
  Usually the massage follows this, and then sometimes we make love, and then I’ll fall asleep. When I awake I am completely rejuvenated.
  

• snathol said on Sep 20, 2006....

  WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, I JUST HAVE SOME SHOWERS ON MY BODY FROM HEAD TO TOES, AND RELAX WITH SOM E SNACKS AND JUICE DRINKS. AND MY ENERGY GET RESTORED TO CONTINUE WHAT I WAS DOING OR OTHER THINGS
  

• feather said on Sep 05, 2007....

  I love massage. Recently I had the most awesome massage ever in Hawaii right on the ocean at this place http://www.oceanfrontmassage.com I went into a trance and I was so relaxed and refreshed I didn't think it was ever possible to feel that good. It was unbelievable the sound of the ocean combined with the massage. Now I just think about it and I immediately take a deep breath and go there.

• phantomblogger said on Sep 06, 2007....

  Put all your worries and stress onto God, no one said you had to go through it alone. Prayer works for me and never has failed me. Get into the word of God.....

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