Relieving stress without resorting to alcohol or chocolate!

[Azzie]

Help! I seem to be having a stressful time at the moment, what with amount of work, ds starting school, and dd generally being 2 years old. My eczema is flaring up and I'm having trouble sleeping. Any ideas/tips on how I can bring a bit of relaxation/stress relief into my weekly or daily routine (without resorting to alcohol or food - I eat when stressed and it's doing me no good at all ). What works for you?

[Tillysmummy]

Hi Azzie,

Sorry to hear you are stressed. I normally find that a good gym session or aggressive swim and then a nice relaxing steam helps to relieve stress. I also find sex is a good stress therapy. And often I resort to a fag and a glass of wine but I am trying to drop the fag thing but am reluctant to give up when I only have 1 or 2 a day !

Also, when I was going through a very stressful time a few years ago (I was going through a divorce at the time) I did a course in Reiki which is a natural healing method and is based around positive energy etc and I found that really helped me.

[batey]

Can you get some "time out" for you? My dds are 2 and just starting school too. I go out once a week with some girlfriends and have a laugh/chat,it really helps me wind down.

On a daily basis tho', it's a big hot bath, something from Lush, crap TV and crash out!! Sad isn't it........!

[Bumblelion]

Sobernow - I have to totally agree with you - something about a nice long bath and then climbing into fresh clean sheets. I always say that if I ever win the lottery, I will pay someone to change my bed linen every day. Just makes me feel so good.

[tigermoth]

Agree about the baths.

Also, could you fit some running into your routine? I started running about this time last year. I used to run at lunchtimes when I was working - luckily there was a shower I could use afterwards. It was free, I could make a snap decision to do it or not since I was not tied to exercise class times, it was over relatively quickly and it was unexpectedly enjoyable to be taking great breaths of fresh autumn air. I wasn't keen enough to jog for more that 30 mins usually - so I still got a bit of a lunchhour.

Doing this three times a week made me feel much more relaxed and fit and helped me sleep. I could feel the difference after just a week, and have tried to keep up a three exercise session a week habit since then.

[Rhubarb]

sex

[Demented]

Definately agree about the exercise. I started to exercise when DS1 was about 16 months and not only did it make me feel good and look better it has the bonus of being a great stress buster.

I have never quite understood the facination with baths. They don't do it for me.

TV, chocolate, Pringles and wine also work quite well!

[Demented]

Oh I see you want to avoid the chocolate and alcohol!

[Azzie]

The problem with the chocolate and alcohol is that it's a marvellous stress reliever until I get up the next morning and stand on the scales, then the stress level rockets again .

I think I'm going to have to make an effort to start running again - I used to go while dh bathed the kids, but he's been working late recently so I haven't been able to go. I'll have to have yet another discussion with him on the subject of lateness .... sigh. I must say that at the moment, with a heavy cold sitting right on my chest (which I can't seem to shake off, probably because I'm so tired) the thought of going for a run is distinctly unappealing!

I did have my hair cut today - sitting for three quarters of an hour while somebody fussed over me was very nice .

[Willow2]

One word....

YOGA!

[georgiana]

Anything with lavender in is very relaxing.What I do if I'm feeling stressed is definately no exercise,a bit of shopping(good for the soul),a few glossy celeb magazines,a nice bottle of favourite booze,my lavender microwavable neck pillow,maybe phone a friend,a chinese takeaway,a lovely bar of chocolate.Tidy the lounge and arrange goodies on table in front,get a good video and put remote control on table also,wait until kids have gone to bed,put mobile phone on table also and flop out and don't move for a few hours,bliss.

[kkgirl]

I would love to start running, but feel self conscious about it. I did go out on DH's bike on Monday but felt like everyone was looking, I'm sure that people have better things to do anyone but its a confidence thing isn't it?

[Rhiannon]

Does your local health centre have a creche? Buy the paper or a mag and a coffee and sit and have an hour to yourself.

[robinw]

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[SueW]

kkgirl - have you ever seen the film 'What Women Want'? I'm sorry Nike didn't use the ad made up for them in that. It's about how the road doesn't care what you look like, how you feel, whether you haven't bothered with it for a week etc.

I haven't done much running outside, I like the controlled environment of a treadmill but it has struck me this month that I spent six months last year dealing with stress by working out and six months this year delaing with it by eating. And I think it's probably pretty obvious which one made me feel better in the end. In january I could conquer the world; at the moment my self-esteem is quite low (especially sitting here in size 16 jeans when I was in a size 12 six months ago).

Anyway, go for the running - the treadmill, road, whatever, doesn't care. Oh and look out for the Penguin books e.g. The Courage to Start : A Guide to Running for Your Life by John 'The Penguin' Bingham who stopped running when he was 8yo cos people told him he couldn't. He started again over 30 years later, just running a few steps from his front door and now does regular marathons. He realises he'll never be at the front, and he knows he won't run his best every day but he's still running. I found it quite inspiring. Must dig it out again.

I've got a child-free evening tomorrow and a friend has persuaded me to go to the gym instead of having a good night out!

[sylvev]

kkgirl... ditto everything suew says! I too swing between gym/running to eating/drinking etc. I do love running though. If you feel self-conscious, don't worry that will soon wear off. I found running with a female friend, wearing a hat (hid under it to begin with) and setting myself tiny goals great ways to overcome my sense of "oh god they're all staring at me!" I found 2 books v. helpful, "The womens guide to running" (can't remember author but can find out) and the aptly titled (for me) "Run away from fat".
Anyway enjoy whatever you decide to do.

[ionesmum]

Azzie, I like to have a good sing/dance to my favourite music. Fortunately dd is too young to be embarrassed by this.

[SueW]

ionesmum - had to smile. DD is still not embarrassed by my singing which means she has confidence to sing herself. She still hasn't noticed I only do it in the car or when we're alone in the house or, sometimes, when we're on the way to school and we get struck by 'Autumn leaves and the grass is green and the silk inside a chestnut shell' or however it goes (we pass a conker tree on the way).

We do a fine line in 'It's Raining Men' too. And I have to admit singing my heart out even with my limited ability is quite therapeutic.

[WideWebWitch]

Azzie, about to go to yoga for first time next week: will let you know if it's good for stress relief. Also agree about sex, sometimes you don't realise (or I don't) how much I need the release of it until I've had it (sorry if that's too much information anyone!) but it's easy to let it slip down the priority list...reading does it for me too: escaping somewhere else completely for a while helps. Or have you considered the Bahamas?

[kkgirl]

Thanks SueW and Sylve for your supportive messages. I would love to feel healthier and fitter and thinner, but no chance of that. DH thinks that little treats like custard tarts and belgian buns will cheer me up and I've tried jokingly to discourage him but don't want to offend him by telling him outright to stop.
I will try on my next day off, only time to try it evenings are out.
I did see What Women Want not that long ago, really enjoyed the film.
Thanks

[robinw]

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[robinw]

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[sis]

Yoga, a good singing and dancing session, just stop reading a book for a few minutes helps me as I tend to immerse myself in the story and forget my problems for a few minutes, lying on the floor with my eyes closed and trying to relax my back.

[sis]

Yoga, a good singing and dancing session, just stop reading a book for a few minutes helps me as I tend to immerse myself in the story and forget my problems for a few minutes, lying on the floor with my eyes closed and trying to relax my back.