How do you manage extreme stress?

[YellowSparrow]

I have a lot going on at the moment
-young baby not sleeping

• teenager with crippling anxiety that prevents her from going to school.
• legal stuff to do with building work

-a house full of junk that I've no idea where to start sorting it.

I'm so mentally drained. I feel like a zombie today because I had some bad news with the legal stuff. I can't shift the mood. I just want to go back to bed and wake up when everything is unstressed.

I need to find ways to cope better as it's all getting on top of me but I haven't got the brain space to figure it out.

Any suggestions?

Mindfulness app.

I tend to zone out and do a jigsaw, read a book or watch something on tv where I do t have to think or get stressed. I don't have time for it but I make sure I get ten minutes to do it. The other thing I do is put earphones in whilst doing jobs and listen to music or podcasts.

Exercise. Go running. It's the best. I've had years of extreme stress and exercise is the best release.

I just started Couch to 5 k. Or I swim.

I do stuff. Clean, organise, donate stuff, list for sale on fb marketplace or vinted. Bag up what I don't want. Clean and tidy.
Probably not an ideal way to deal with stress but it makes me feel more in control. If my house is cluttered my mind is cluttered.

For baby's sleep I can recommend huckleberry app.

Go have a nap op!

I know a couple of people who specialise in hypnosis for children with anxiety and depression. They offer free initial consultations with the parents - happy to pass on the details by DM if you're interested.

mindfulness, exercise etc

go outside for a walk for 10 minutes.

I suggest you read (or listen if you have audible) to Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.

It helped me to learn to deal with stress when I couldn’t do anything about the stressors.

Now I do physical stuff. Singing at the top of my voice, dancing, walking, lifting weights etc. Movement works well for me.

Wash the car. It's a little bit physical, but takes just long enough to be able to get your mind on that and off other things.

Walk early in the morning. Much nicer than when things have sped up a bit, and the first thing you do is get out of the house, rather than start thinking of a million things again.

Mooji on youtube has good meditations to listen to, about empting the mind, l just love the soynd of his voice, so soothing. Also l had a son with school anxiety so l know exactly how hopeless this situation can feel, l kind of changed my thinking patterns to accept school was no longer working, no matter what we tried, just prolonging the agony, so we drew a line under school and started HE and the difference it has made is unbelievable..Son got really good results in his exams and is now working part time as well as studying.
Also would reccomend a couple of books called "In the meantime" and "Until today" by Iyanla Vanzant, found those to be quite helpful.

Exercise works for me.

A walk in the sunshine is wonderful and if you take your baby too there's a chance they might sleep better tonight (worked for my two).

Propanarol 😂

Also get my sympathy from the school anxiety.

It feels like almost an impossible situation. Again I've removed mine from the school environment and he has now taken GCSEs after a period of home schooling and the plan is 6th form college.

I know that not everyone can do that but if you can it can immediately alleviate the cycle of despair you feel dealing with school anxiety issues.

Other than that I second getting fresh air and trying to make time to yourself.

To all the people saying to do things like run, meditate, etc, I do kinda get it... kinda...

But honestly if this was me I'd have a glass of wine, a pizza and watch Netflix. Maybe that's what you need OP?

Drugs for me. Maybe not overly helpful! I can’t get to sleep or stay asleep when I’m stressed so I knock myself out with antihistamines and find I can cope with so much more when I’ve had more rest. And then a small amount of propranolol helps me stop freaking out and getting in my own way so I can focus on getting what I need to do done.

Thank you for all the replies. There's lots for me to try.

We are at the point of deregistering my daughter. There is just no help what so ever to be had and when she gets anxious she becomes very defensive which comes across as rude and the school label her as naughty which is hugely detrimental. @lifeturnsonadime would it be OK to pm you regarding thd home schooling. I don't know where to start with it.

Sleep is definitely a huge part of it for me and the mess in the house really doesn't help either. I guess those are things I could try to tackle first.
I'm massively overweight so running isn't great for my knees but I love walking. Just need to force myself to do it. I guess a big part of this is taking better care of myself. I can't carry everything if I'm completely broken. I am just not good at whole self care thing.

Bit of a cliche but cold water, outdoor swimming. It's like flicking a switch.