How well do you handle stress?

[Ryan]

About a week ago, I had a rather stressful situation come up with my business and feel like it completely consumed my thoughts and kinda made me feel not myself for a solid week.  This was the type of thing that was a cause for concern, but really most of my stress came from thinking about all the things that could go wrong.  In some ways, since I have such a strong reaction to certain types of stress, I feel like it makes me more focused on a specific tasks....like I worked for a week straight and was more focused than I had been in a long time.  In other ways, I kinda feel like I stress too much about stuff that ends up not being that important in hindsight.

I was thinking though, 99% of my life I live completely stress free.  So sometimes I think, am I really good at managing stress day to day?  Or am I just lucky that I don't have too many stressful situations in my life? And what will I do if I ever have something that is really serious? Like my kid getting really sick or something.  I guess it's kinda like having a high pain tolerance, you never know since you can never actually experience what someone else is experiencing.

How bout you?  Do you feel like you are good at managing stressful situations?

[toomuchreality]

Maybe by thinking about the things that could go wrong, you problem solve and are better able to handle those stressors if/when they happen.  



I'm not so good at handling stress.
When things bother me to the point that I feel bitchy inside, I HATE it. I can't stand being me. The good thing about this is, that it causes me so much concern that I'm usually really nice to people.
I don't handle anger well. I turn it into depression.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I handle it well outwardly but I have too much of an autonomic reaction and after decades of high stress all the time I feel a little worn out.

:0

[cktc]

I struggle more with anticipating stressful situations. I worry about every little thing that could go wrong. When it comes time to actually deal with it, I'm more relaxed as I know I've handled what I can and will somehow make it through.

Day to day, little stressors, it really depends on whether or not I get a break. Some days I'm just going going going and something small will set me off.

[Deleted]

The first 9/10... awesome. The last 1/10... spectacularly awful.

[TheOtherMe]

I have never done well with stress.  Usually sends me in to a depression episode.

[Cookies Galore]

I have GAD and I'm almost constantly on edge, so stress is my normal state. When I'm extra stressed I go into super organize mode. It annoys my husband, who funnily enough, does not handle stress well. Sometimes anxiety is a virtue! Hahaha.

[MJ2.0]

when I'm overly stressed I get into a "fuck everything, I'm done" mindset and pretty much shut down.  Kind of like depression-lite.  Not great.

[NoNamePerson]

There was a time when I had head spinning demonic meltdowns when stressed. As time progressed I just say piss on it. Not worth the time and effort since me being stressed accomplished not one  thing. 

[hoops902]

I don't deal with stress very well.  I escalate things in my mind until it's out of control (for example, anything work-related that stresses me, inevitably I convince myself that the next day I'm going to tell everyone to fuck off and quit).  Fortunately, there isn't a lot that actually stresses me.  So on the one hand, I'm pretty laid back about stressors that most people would classify as "stressful".  One the other hand, when something actually makes the cut as being stressful, it's terrible.  There's not much in-between where I'm actually stressed but deal with it well.

ETA: I do think one of the things which actually helps keep me from not finding most things stressful is the fact that I go overboard in my mind about stressors. When work actually does stress me out and I escalate it internally to "I quit, suck it"...I'm not actually stressed out about losing my job or finding a new job or anything like that. The stress is that I'm going to have to have this confrontation with someone and that I'm going to do/say these things that I'll later regret. I'm actually not worried about being jobless, I'd be ok with that. I'm stressed about the idea that I'm going to do something then regret it (and that I'm going to go nuclear in a way that makes taking it back impossible).

[swamp]

Oct 27, 2017 11:21:37 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

I don't deal with stress very well.  I escalate things in my mind until it's out of control (for example, anything work-related that stresses me, inevitably I convince myself that the next day I'm going to tell everyone to fuck off and quit).  Fortunately, there isn't a lot that actually stresses me.  So on the one hand, I'm pretty laid back about stressors that most people would classify as "stressful".  One the other hand, when something actually makes the cut as being stressful, it's terrible.  There's not much in-between where I'm actually stressed but deal with it well.

I had an epic meltdown last night, so i reached the end of my rope. 

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2017 11:23:20 GMT -5 swamp said:

Oct 27, 2017 11:21:37 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

I don't deal with stress very well.  I escalate things in my mind until it's out of control (for example, anything work-related that stresses me, inevitably I convince myself that the next day I'm going to tell everyone to fuck off and quit).  Fortunately, there isn't a lot that actually stresses me.  So on the one hand, I'm pretty laid back about stressors that most people would classify as "stressful".  One the other hand, when something actually makes the cut as being stressful, it's terrible.  There's not much in-between where I'm actually stressed but deal with it well.

I had an epic meltdown last night, so i reached the end of my rope. 

That was me on Tuesday evening. 

[WholeLottaNothin]

I handle stress okay in the moment, but later on I break down.

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2017 11:36:38 GMT -5 WholeLottaNothin said:

I handle stress okay in the moment, but later on I break down.

I'm kind of the opposite.  I overreact at first, then regroup and figure out what I need to do to tackle it. 

[bean29]

I usually can just focus and tune everything out, but I will get very cold the more stress I am under. If my stress level continues I have to force myself to concentrate or I will have panic overtake my thought process and not be able to get any work done. Usually my stress results from my work - so whatever is causing my stress needs to get done - not an occasion to just relax and take it easy.

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 27, 2017 11:36:38 GMT -5 WholeLottaNothin said:

I handle stress okay in the moment, but later on I break down.

I was a lot like that when my son was younger. Had to deal with cool head but later break down. I'm pretty much the same way in old age just not much bothers me now.

[chiver78]

Oct 27, 2017 10:12:54 GMT -5 MJ2.0 said:

when I'm overly stressed I get into a "fuck everything, I'm done" mindset and pretty much shut down.  Kind of like depression-lite.  Not great.

^this. and I go beyond shut down into just sleep. like will sleep 12+ hours a day, sleep. 

unless I hit that wall, I tend to do okay though. if it's work stress, I just start making lists and powering through. 


whatever's going on for you, I hope it gets better for you. 

[WholeLottaNothin]

Oct 27, 2017 12:00:28 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Oct 27, 2017 11:36:38 GMT -5 WholeLottaNothin said:

I handle stress okay in the moment, but later on I break down.

I was a lot like that when my son was younger. Had to deal with cool head but later break down. I'm pretty much the same way in old age just not much bothers me now.

Yeah I try not to let the kids see me. I don't always succeed.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

In an emergency I'm actually pretty calm and organized, I'm the one you should turn to.  It's after the emergency that my brain starts to process what just happened and I break down.

Little stresses it depends on what it is and the day.  My biggest problem is I let all those little things fester rather than address them directly then next thing I know I'm sobbing uncontrollably in front of someone.

[kittensaver]

Oct 27, 2017 13:12:57 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

In an emergency I'm actually pretty calm and organized, I'm the one you should turn to.  It's after the emergency that my brain starts to process what just happened and I break down.

This is me

But my big life issue has been: I tend to not break down afterwards. I've always internalized it/stuffed it down and have ended up getting physically sick. I'm still a work-in-progress when it comes to dealing with stress in a healthy manner [is there even such a thing?!?]

[giramomma]

I handle different stresses differently.

Financial stress keeps me awake at night, literally.

Job stress..I try to advocate for myself. I also hyper focus. And chocolate. And needlework on my commute in to center myself.

DH stress: Here I tend to emotionally react in about 2 nano-seconds and come down. I'm doing really well, right now though. But, that's only because I really worked hard about a decade ago.

Kid stress: depends. I'm starting to get a little freaked out about not being ready for #4. But, I'm more worried about making sure DS is ready for HS and starts off on the right foot for that. I do get strong with DS sometimes. But, 13 has not been one of his banner years, thus far.

Other emotional stress (FOO): I usually have a break down 3x a year or so..where I'm in a funk for a few hours to a few days. And then I move on.

School stress: Here..I get more high strung and I'm pissy. Some of that is just getting back in the saddle again and learning how to manage time better.

[Spellbound454]

Well teaching loads of petulant teenagers day-in-day-out.....is no picnic

but Its not actually the teaching that is the problem ...its the massive amount of paperwork that everyone demands immediately....that causes stress...
and by teacher leaders .....who should know better...... but hey.

I'm extremely well organised ....and constantly nibble away at the work mountain, so that it doesn't get too big.
Everything has a priority... and its seen each through to the end so it can be crossed off the list.
Pet hate is wasting time

and when I go home...I go home to rest....... with a "I've done my best so f*ck it" attitude.

It takes a lot to get me riled really.

[Jake 48]

Oct 26, 2017 23:38:03 GMT -5 cktc said:

I struggle more with anticipating stressful situations. I worry about every little thing that could go wrong. When it comes time to actually deal with it, I'm more relaxed as I know I've handled what I can and will somehow make it through.

Day to day, little stressors, it really depends on whether or not I get a break. Some days I'm just going going going and something small will set me off.

[ZaireinHD]

it depends on my mood at the very time of a stressful event!

[busymom]

It depends on the situation.  The good news is, as I've gotten older, I can turn on my "I don't give a darn" button more easily.  The bad news is, if I've dealt with a lot of stress for a long period of time, my back tightens up badly.  Anyone know a really good massage therapist?  

[dee27]

My stress depends on the circumstances causing it. When DGD died, the stress made me feel sad, and I was powerless to change the situation. Today, I walked out of the dealership because the manager was not listening to what I said: I am not buying a car today. I find that situation annoying but not stressful. 

[countrygirl2]

I have had so much stress in my life I don't know. I swear I have had at least
3 breakdowns but somehow managed to come back pretty strong.

Writing on here about my stress really helps me, I don't need to verbalize out
loud, writing it helps me just as much.

I deal with the situation, but like when DD was having her major issues, and
I was dealing with MIL and her sister, I was beginning to wonder if I was going
to make it mentally. Been through a lot in my life but that almost took me under.

I'm sure it has played havoc with me and I'm not the person I was but think I still
have my head on pretty straight. Just feel like tomorrow is another day and I will
start all over again. That's pretty much it.

[whoisjohngalt]

As long as no one is puking, I usually do OK.

I run the very worst case scenario in my head immediately, and since so far reality hasn't been as bad - I can handle it.

Also, after a very embarrassing episode many years ago, I am now really in-tuned with my mental and physical state and if need be - I force myself to relax. Not by doing yoga, though (MJ2.0

[busymom]

I agree with whoisjohngalt.  I also tend to run the worst case scenario in my head, and if it doesn't get THAT bad, then, life is good, or at least manageable.  

[OldCoyote]

Here is something I posted Oct 2013.


Thread started Oct 24, 2013 at 7:51am QuotelikeEditPost Options Post by oldcoyote on Oct 24, 2013 at 7:51am

One year ago today I was at an old customers business doing a start up on a machine.

The machine was bought sight unseen, when I picked up the machine for the customer

all of the covers were missing and all of the electrical wiring was gone.

We rewired the machine and built new covers, hard job. On the start up one of the solenoid valves was leaking, just needed to be cleaned.

The cover were still off for testing. the employee I had cleaning the valve dropped a piece of it in the back of the machine. I'm at the front of the machine watching the computer

when I hear him groan, at this point he is about four foot away from me, I just thought he had hit his head or something. He took a couple of steps back and collapsed.

he fell on pile of hoses, I yelled at the owner to call 911. He had no pulse, I pulled him off the hoses and started chest compression.

The owner on the phone with 911 went to the front to wave down the fire dept. I told the owner to tell them to hurry, he asked is he breathing, NO.

The Fire dept.just wandered in no hurry on their part. The Capt checked for a pulse, none, " Let's move him farther down, (rapid chest compresses over the heart)

Let's get the shirt off, (more compresses), Get a backboard under him, ( more compresses and putting the defibrillator), Clear, (he jumps and suddenly the monitor shows a heartbeat)

Breathe deeply, breathe deeply, that's good." They load him on a gurney and take him to the hospital. He survived, 5 days in the hospital no side effects!

As the Capt. is leaving he said "you saved his life", the owner said the same thing. I said, I don't want that responsibility. I was a wreck. I have relived this every day since.



Have any of you had a similar experience, How did you handle it?



One other thing, the valve he was working was of no danger. but when he reached for the dropped part, he touched a voltage transformer right at his heart.


The emergency I handled well,, the aftermath, I did not do well,, Five years later it still bothers me.