Dealing with stress

[Euryalus]

So, I hit rock bottom on the 3rd due to some shit going on in my life right now.

Probably one of the worst days of my life.

*dramatic hand gesture*

[sub][sub][sub]No but seriously[/sub][/sub][/sub]

At least I hope it's rock bottom. I can't imagine going lower... Fack! I jinxed it now didn't I? XD

Oh well, none of that matters, just background for the topic of this thread. I got to thinking about how I deal with stuff and noticed a couple of things.

-I tend to lose my appetite. Quite a lot actually. I think I had a grand total of 800 calories or something yesterday. I was hungry, but at the same time didn't feel like eating... which is fucked because I'm usually a garbage disposal.

-I spend ALOT more time just listening to music rather than having it on when I'm doing something else. It's amazing how peaceful not thinking is

-I work out a bit obsessively. It used to be I ran, but now (since November) its mostly weight lifting.

-And finally I have this weird tick where I clench my right hand into a fist and tap my left fingers over the "cracks" in my fist obsessively, then occasionally rub the back of my neck. It looks weird as fuck, and I try to stop whenever I notice I'm doing it. No idea why I do it XD

TL;DR So, what do you guys do when depressed or stressed? How do you deal with it and what habits do you tend to fall into?

 

[Barbas]

I tend to twitch or shudder involuntarily with barely-concealed incandescent rage. I also kick things and refer to people as "fuckhouse" more often. I seclude myself and retreat into books, music and art. Sometimes I decide to go out for a refreshing walk in the forest (weather permitting).

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I become a bitter husk of my former self, ruining everyone's day with my toxic personality.


...

loljk, no I don't, that's stupid.


When I'm stressed, I just try to relax, talk to people I like, play games, whatever. I've somewhat gained newfound perspective in the last year.

 

[Elfgore]

This first one is going to make me sound insane.

I talk to myself quite often. When I'm stresses I tend to just shout at myself why I'm pissed off and vent about it. Like when my boss pisses me off at work, while I drive home I shout out all of my anger so by the time I'm home I can relax.

Music is also my saving grace. Just put on some heavy metal and bang my head a little bit. I'll be good in no time.

 

[Euryalus]

I become a bitter husk of my former self, ruining everyone's day with my toxic personality.

Yes, THAT drama was exactly what I needed the very next day XD

Jesus christ.

When I'm stressed, I just try to relax, talk to people I like, play games, whatever. I've somewhat gained some newfound perspective in the last year.

Ditto for the new perspective. Still in my growing pains (winces), but I'd like to think things are slowly looking up despite my rutts. *knocks on wood*

Even stumbled into a date just today actually.

 

[Barbas]

Even stumbled into a date just today actually.

I hope you apologised!

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

TL;DR So, what do you guys do when depressed or stressed? How do you deal with it and what habits do you tend to fall into?

Destroy things, preferably digitally but sometimes in the real world. BUT I have learned to not take things out on people around me, that only causes more shit, stress and destruction.
Also I used to run before I found you can separate your patella from your knee, slide it up to mid thigh before it snaps (painfully) back into place with tendons and ligaments all disjointed or torn. After that I can't run without my left knee feeling like its a jello mold in the shape of a knee joint, but with fucking pain.
Also I used to shoot targets with various rifles and pistols but I don't have access to those right now.
So I have my stress relief tools, and they work fairly well. I also have "other means" of de-stressing but I won't discuss those.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

I listen to furious music! Which is followed up by something slower, more mellow. Or vice versa! Sometimes I furiously play a game! Dragon's Crown is a pretty good choice when I'm angry or upset.

 

[JoJo]

The only definite thing I've noticed that happens when I'm stressed is my eczema flairs up, it always used to come back with a vengeance when for example I was revising for important exams or such. Hopefully now I've graduated I've seen the last of it >.>

 

[mistahzig1]

When in doubt, m*sturbate!

 

[Sassafrass]

I always boot up a WWE game, set up a TLC match and just go at it for 30 minutes. Therapeutic AND fun.
Failing that, r/cute, husky puppies and vidya gaems. Sometimes talk to friends about it but I don't like doing that, makes me feel like I'm making their day shitty.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

I become really obsessive about neatness, instill fear in friends and co-workers and do less things I love except play video games. I don't do anything creative, don't draw and can't think.
I also avoid responsibility like the plague and generally just want everyone to leave me alone.

I also play a lot of JRPGs.

 

[FalloutJack]

Ah, well I don't get depression. My personality and possibly brain chemistry is not intrinsically suited to sustain it. Tried once, but got pissed. No, what I have is a tendency to rage more than sob, so I tend to vent whenever I'm angry, which I've minimized by leading a rather laid-back life that - in a high-blood-pressure family - seems to have kept my blood pressure largely normal. The trick is to vent somewhere that people aren't, because doing so around the people bothering me will start fights that you frankly aren't equipped to win, verbally or physically. My laid-back lifestyle is due to a number of things used in an entertainment venue to unwind. Why do ya think I speak out about the cathartic effect of violent video games? Damn things WORK.

 

[Eamar]

When I'm stressed or anxious about something, or if I'm slipping into a depression (though not when I'm properly depressed, for obvious reasons) I put on some music, pace/dance/run around and imagine I'm a badass Elf warrior in Middle Earth.

Sounds odd I know, but it really helps. I guess it's just a distraction technique. I've done it my whole life, so I've built up quite the fantasy life in my head

 

[Raikas]

I'm not a depressive type, but when I'm stressed I find moving around helps - go for a run/hike/ski (or if the weather's really crap hit the gym). That just puts me in a totally improved mood pretty much every time.

Alternatively, there's always complaining to the dog. You get it out of your system without anyone needing to hear you whine, and you sound like less of a crazy person than you would if you just talked to yourself.

 

[anthony87]

I don't talk to anybody about my problems and bottle everything up.

Y'know......the healthy option ^_^

 

[EeveeElectro]

I spent the vast majority of 2012 stressed or depressed so I sure do know how it feels.
My hair usually falls out in clumps. Thankfully my hair is thick but people kept pointing out how lank it was looking. It's mainly grown back now.
Patches of my eyebrows or eyelashes fall out.
My scalp psoriasis and eczema flares up.
I ended up vomiting nearly every day and finding it hard to keep food down or to eat in the first place.
I shake, have sweaty palms, usually end up crying or screaming and overreact.
I completely close up and stay in bed in my pyjamas all day.
I stop caring about my appearance or how clean my surroundings are.

When a little stressed I pull my hair out or bite my nails.

EDIT: Clearly I don't deal with it very well... I just kinda hope it goes away by itself :/

 

[Colour Scientist]

I don't talk to anybody about my problems and bottle everything up.

Y'know......the healthy option ^_^

The Irish way of dealing with problems is clearly the best way.

It's not like we're all complete basket cases because of it or anything.

 

[x EvilErmine x]

I try to get the hell out of the way of what's getting me stressed out, usually this take the form of going for a run or a long drive. If I can't do either of those just sleep.

Lately though it's been getting harder to do. What do you do when you feel like your life is sliding out of view and you can't seem to see a way to change it? Fucked if i know, ah well one day i'll be dead and then i won't have to worry about it so i guess that's a bright side.

 

[Someone Depressing]

I listen to music, sleep, rape dogs with branches, sticks and baseball bats, relaxing things.

I also play videogames, because... why else would I be here?