Stress, do you confront it or run from it?

chic

chic

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These are particularly stressful times so we are probably feeling a bit more stress than usual. How do you best or most frequently cope with the stresses in your own life. Confront? Run? Other?

I prefer to confront a stress if the result of that confrontation will make the stress go away, but this all depends on the day and the number of stressors happening all at once. Some days I feel like pulling the covers over my head and just not dealing with anything. Sometimes, I delay the stress, especially if it is a bill or something. I tell myself I will deal with when I'm ready to pay it. It will still be here. Sometimes I share my stress with others and get helpful opinions and insights from them and sometimes I just try to forget it all and have as much fun as I can while I can. Stress is lousy but stress coping skills can help survive with our sanity intact.
 

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There's all kinds of books and articles on how to relieve stress. I think each person has to find their own outlet to either minimize or rid themselves of stress. Stress can be a way of shortening one's life if they allow it to consume them. Some people have had nervous breakdowns by allowing too much stress to build up inside them. It's a good thing to have a close friend to talk with. Talking to a trusted friend does help, especially if that friend has also gone through similar situations.
 
So interesting to come upon this thread chic. Lately I have been confronting my stress and panic; talking to myself as if I care. Seems better than flying in the wind of chaos. Perhaps I'm not too old to help myself. We'll see. I've also been laying it all out for my cat to advise, but the advice is always the same "take a nap."
 
hollydolly said:
I offload it onto my friends.. :sneaky::D...seriously I seem to live my life stressed up.. I know no other way than to deal with it as it comes..
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Stress at work can be a buzz, although at the time I'm thinking, "I can do without this crap," the stress is part and parcel of working life. Twelve years ago I retired, never was I so bored in all my life but at least I was stress free. Two years of that and a chance phone call has seen me back in employment and still there, stress and all.
 
Stress isn't something I enjoy, but I deal with it. I allow myself two hours to dwell on it, then find a way to relieve some of it and work out a solution if it's within my power. Otherwise, I let it be until later to deal with.
 
There are different levels of stress. Dealing with the minor stress gives me a feeling of accomplishment once it's dealt with. The heavy stuff can get overwhelming sometimes, and I'm afraid I never was very good at dealing with it. I tended to over react. Retirement makes dealing with that kind of stress easier.
 
I agree with Chet. There are different levels of stress, and there is no "one size fis all" answer.

If you're feeling stressed because you just can't seem to lose those 5 extra pounds, or the weather has been lousy lately, or you can't remember the last time you heard a pop song you actually liked, you just sigh and move on. (Or, at least, I do.)

If you know your spouse or significant other is having an affair with someone else, that's different. That has to be confronted.

The question is too general to have any meaning.
 
The last few days I have noticed when I feel real stressed out I begin going inward and hashing out difficult feelings/thoughts and everything seems to be compressed. Then I noticed that I was unaware of knowing "this will pass too". I am learning to remember that phrase when things get rough. It does help change my perspective and whatever is bothering me seems to lighten up.
 
IKE said:
I agree with what several folks above have already said and that's about all you can do is just grit your teeth and deal with it......in time it will pass.
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Sometimes stress doesn't pass though. I watched my father die much too young from a stressor over which he had no control. First he got a heart attack, a year later he got cancer and died. Alleviating stress is important to life itself. I have an argumentative friend whom I do love dearly but sometimes, I will end an argument in the middle and ask if we can come back to it later. :giggle: We never do and that is the idea. It's my polite way of telling him I'm finding this needlessly stressful.
 
I have a tendency to ruminate and overthink everything which just multiplies any stressor that I am dealing with. I am trying to make a conscious effort to do a Scarlett O'Hara and "think about it tomorrow". Sounds counterproductive but in my case it helps me get things into a better perspective and that old saying about sleep on it is beneficial for me.
 

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