How do YOU deal with stress?
Discussion
10 years ago I had a break down at 30 city based job lots of stress alcohol and some other vices, took a lomng time to get fixed but 5 years ago I refound exercise and the gym made a huge difference. This year wife has been working away 3 out of 4 weeks a month meaning I am sole child care provider meaning no gym etc - I have noticed similar symptoms again but I have not had a drink in 3 years so its eaier to manage.
Exercise is key do some even if its walking u will feel better
Exercise is key do some even if its walking u will feel better
A great tool for me is to try and remember what was the nightmare senario 6 months ago I was stressing about, usually I can't really specifically remember, therefore what I'm stressing about today is probably unimportant in 6 months time and not worth stressing out over.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
Gecko1978 said:
10 years ago I had a break down at 30 city based job lots of stress alcohol and some other vices, took a lomng time to get fixed but 5 years ago I refound exercise and the gym made a huge difference. This year wife has been working away 3 out of 4 weeks a month meaning I am sole child care provider meaning no gym etc - I have noticed similar symptoms again but I have not had a drink in 3 years so its eaier to manage.
Exercise is key do some even if its walking u will feel better
I never use the gym. There's a ton of stuff you can do with a very small amount of equipment just in the living room.Exercise is key do some even if its walking u will feel better
Bob-iylho said:
A great tool for me is to try and remember what was the nightmare senario 6 months ago I was stressing about, usually I can't really specifically remember, therefore what I'm stressing about today is probably unimportant in 6 months time and not worth stressing out over.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
Great point! It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
HustleRussell said:
Bob-iylho said:
A great tool for me is to try and remember what was the nightmare senario 6 months ago I was stressing about, usually I can't really specifically remember, therefore what I'm stressing about today is probably unimportant in 6 months time and not worth stressing out over.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
Great point! It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
If it is something my descendants will talk about in 100 years it's worth worrying about. If not, it's just life.
HustleRussell said:
Bob-iylho said:
A great tool for me is to try and remember what was the nightmare senario 6 months ago I was stressing about, usually I can't really specifically remember, therefore what I'm stressing about today is probably unimportant in 6 months time and not worth stressing out over.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
Great point! It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
As mentioned earlier, panic attacks stem from the fight or flight response. A response that is as routed in all humans as feeling hungry or needing the loo.
Back in caveman days, fight or flight resulted in exactly that; fight or flight. The resulting physical exertion dealt with the associated adrenaline. In 2019, you have the same physical response, but no sabre toothed tigers to fight or run away from so the adrenaline/hormones etc don't go away. As such if you don't deal with the episodes, they can begin to spiral and get on top of you.
A simple solution is what everybody on here is suggesting; go to the gym and as others have also said, get in the moment and zone out the rest of your life out - you don't have time to think IT if you're in a boxing ring trying not to get punched in the face, climbing a mountain on a bike, squatting xxx kg etc etc.
TL:DR - google mindfulness
Alex Z said:
That’s basically my life you’ve described there, though I have allowed it to get to me more.
No easy answers, but I have to force myself to stay well away from work emails outside of office hours so I have room to decompress.
If your answering work emails from home or off duty then it usually starts piling on the stress after sometime.No easy answers, but I have to force myself to stay well away from work emails outside of office hours so I have room to decompress.
I had a friend doing a job which his employer expected him to do training courses after 10 hours in the office and answering emails 24/7.
If he got an email he had to respond immediately or else his professionalism and dedication for the job was called into question the next day.
He told his employer to stick it, the employer responded by saying he was 'surprised he had tolerated it for so long'
EarlofDrift said:
Alex Z said:
That’s basically my life you’ve described there, though I have allowed it to get to me more.
No easy answers, but I have to force myself to stay well away from work emails outside of office hours so I have room to decompress.
If your answering work emails from home or off duty then it usually starts piling on the stress after sometime.No easy answers, but I have to force myself to stay well away from work emails outside of office hours so I have room to decompress.
I had a friend doing a job which his employer expected him to do training courses after 10 hours in the office and answering emails 24/7.
If he got an email he had to respond immediately or else his professionalism and dedication for the job was called into question the next day.
He told his employer to stick it, the employer responded by saying he was 'surprised he had tolerated it for so long'
Bob-iylho said:
A great tool for me is to try and remember what was the nightmare senario 6 months ago I was stressing about, usually I can't really specifically remember, therefore what I'm stressing about today is probably unimportant in 6 months time and not worth stressing out over.
It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
This works for me as well. In 1 months time it will be a bad memory, in a years time it will be a distant memory and by the time I retire in 30 years, it will be forgotten... It's a very simple technique, I catastrophise everything but it's getting much better.
Have been experiencing similar symptoms of late, with increasing severity and frequency.
Spoke to the GP and got some good advice, will get o that, and advice to self-refer to a local mental health support charity for face-to-face talking therapy/CBT (just waiting for an appointment now).
The suggestions given were:
Regular exercise
Time outdoors
Meditation
Cleaner diet
I've combined the exercise and outdoor time by getting back into running. I always go without headphones/music and pay attention to the sounds around me (those other than my gasping for breath and plodding feet). I've been using the Headspace app (it's certainly challenging to sit and just let thoughts go by without grabbing on to them all) and have tried to cut right down on sugar and caffeine.
In addition, and as a last resort, I have beta blockers prescribed to take if I feel an attach coming on (thankfully not had to use them so far, am keen to avoid medications as much as possible).
Good luck with getting on top of this, keep talking and taking on any advice.
Spoke to the GP and got some good advice, will get o that, and advice to self-refer to a local mental health support charity for face-to-face talking therapy/CBT (just waiting for an appointment now).
The suggestions given were:
Regular exercise
Time outdoors
Meditation
Cleaner diet
I've combined the exercise and outdoor time by getting back into running. I always go without headphones/music and pay attention to the sounds around me (those other than my gasping for breath and plodding feet). I've been using the Headspace app (it's certainly challenging to sit and just let thoughts go by without grabbing on to them all) and have tried to cut right down on sugar and caffeine.
In addition, and as a last resort, I have beta blockers prescribed to take if I feel an attach coming on (thankfully not had to use them so far, am keen to avoid medications as much as possible).
Good luck with getting on top of this, keep talking and taking on any advice.
I started having panic attacks etc many years ago. My father in law, who was a GP, said to run. Not as a pastime, but when attacks occurred if possible. Run that adrenaline off. I never did, as mostly it was in the middle of the night!
I do believe a lot of us put ourselves under too much pressure. I'm self employed and put work before everything. I literally went to work just 2 hours after my daughter was born because I had booked the job and simply couldn't let the person down. Totally ridiculous, but I'm still the same 24 years later, suffering dull chest aches and palpitations. Just waiting for it to go bang! The irony of course is the true animal fear in us is of death, yet the worry is what will kill you. I could preach what everyone else here is saying, but just won't make myself practice it.
I hope you can sort it out and take on good advice, as you're not much use to your family in a box ....unless if course you've got a cracking life insurance policy!
I do believe a lot of us put ourselves under too much pressure. I'm self employed and put work before everything. I literally went to work just 2 hours after my daughter was born because I had booked the job and simply couldn't let the person down. Totally ridiculous, but I'm still the same 24 years later, suffering dull chest aches and palpitations. Just waiting for it to go bang! The irony of course is the true animal fear in us is of death, yet the worry is what will kill you. I could preach what everyone else here is saying, but just won't make myself practice it.
I hope you can sort it out and take on good advice, as you're not much use to your family in a box ....unless if course you've got a cracking life insurance policy!
Around 8 years ago I started getting anxiety/panic attacks, much like the OP described. I eventually went for therapy 5 years ago & it totally changed my life. I spent some £1,500 over 9 months - best thing I've done! Most of the sessions seemed a waste of time, but the few 'Eureka' moments that did occur, made it all worth it.
Until recently quite badly,
I had a few scary moments in an ECMO ward with my mum last year and found it difficult to handle what was going on around me.
I've always been a bottler and talking to people about my 'feelings' is very difficult for me.
I had a bad episode towards the end of last year and realised I was depending on alcohol to function properly and the stress had turned into a depression and decided to get some help.
I walked to the docs and said, "something isn't right"- they seemed more concerned if I was suicidal and when confirmed I wasn't they added me onto a waiting list for cognitive therapy... it's been 9 months and I've heard nothing!
So I realised I needed to sort myself out and decided to get back into fitness and maybe this would help..
I've started running 5-10k distances every weekend now and I do feel much better.
The negative dread has gone, I still bite my fingernails but I'm working on this.
I had a few scary moments in an ECMO ward with my mum last year and found it difficult to handle what was going on around me.
I've always been a bottler and talking to people about my 'feelings' is very difficult for me.
I had a bad episode towards the end of last year and realised I was depending on alcohol to function properly and the stress had turned into a depression and decided to get some help.
I walked to the docs and said, "something isn't right"- they seemed more concerned if I was suicidal and when confirmed I wasn't they added me onto a waiting list for cognitive therapy... it's been 9 months and I've heard nothing!
So I realised I needed to sort myself out and decided to get back into fitness and maybe this would help..
I've started running 5-10k distances every weekend now and I do feel much better.
The negative dread has gone, I still bite my fingernails but I'm working on this.
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