Advice wanted: How do you cope with STRESS!?

I don't know if this will work since you seem to live in a snowy climate, but WALKING is very calming to me. With my music on, hopefully. Just let my mind go blank. Also, tea. Even if you put a packet of sugar in, that is only 15 calories. Something that smells comforting - I love honey vanilla chamomile and Yogi perfect energy.

Stretch. Also, reach out. Yesterday I put a status on facebook asking everyone to tell me one good thing, any subject. I got 50 responses that brightened my day!

Finally, and this is a hard one, try to get enough sleep. Seems impossible at times, but so worthwhile.

I am also a working mom of 3, just went through a period of unemployment, finances are precarious, and in the past 6 months my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and my husband with lymphoma. So I TOTALLY understand your challenges.

I'll send you a FR. Hang in there.

Recently I have been exercising fairly regularly, but honestly find it VERY hard to get motivated to do so when I feel so blue. Playing Just Dance on the Wii with the kids is one thing I have done that helps, and sledding when it snows. I really want to succeed with my weight-loss. What do you do when all you crave is comfort food to make you feel better?

I used to drink, smoke and eat.

Recently, regular exercise to good music is my go to.

Exercise, exercise and more exercise! I found that running really helped me. I started off slow with the C25K program and increased my distance from there. Running is my ME time. I can clear my head and think without distractions or I can just focus on running and block everything else out.

Also, exercise gets those endophins going so it just makes you feel better in general. I understand it's hard to get motivated but you just have to do it. And once you do you will feel great about it.

I know it's tough but something high intensity that gets your heart pounding will also get your endorphins pumping and then you will feel so much better! If going out for a run is not your thing a short DVD can be great. A lot of people on here love Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. That's how I lost all my weight and I loved it because it's so short-like 22 minutes I think?

exercise... I LOVE to beat the hell out of the heavy bag to the point where my hands are swollen if I am not wearing gloves...

Yoga and music. Lots and lots of each

Excersise and stretching help me a lot, but I am also the type that needs "me" time. I also NEEEEED my time with my friends. My dog brings huge amounts of joy and de-stressing to my life. Basically, find some stuff that makes you happy and make time for them, as well as making time to just be by yourself.

P.S.- Friend request sent as well

Headphones and a heavy bag in the garage.

In times like this, one of my doctors said, "It's okay to take care of yourself and be selfish - it's your turn!"

As someone else already said, limit the negativity. Avoid negative people, avoid the evening news shows, and if you're going to read the paper - focus on one section: The comics.

Watch uplifting movies instead of "blow 'em up, blood & guts" movies.

If there's a hobby you always wanted to take up, now's the time. Knitting, sewing, crocheting - and I'm not talking about 3 hours at a time - maybe just start at 15 minutes. There are video's on YouTube that can show you how to do it.

I have 2 kids, and know it's hard to keep them occupied or not at each's other's throats....find activities that you can do with them....my sister once got some little wooden boxes from Michael's and some paints, and her kids LOVED painting them and making them their own. My sister-in-law has given my daughters braclet making kits, and they love that. I play UNO with them and CandyLand. My husband plays Clue with them. I took them to see Monsters Inc over the holidays.

Even Chik-Fil-A has family night - the one we go to has it on Tuesdays, and it's "buy one get one free kids meals" - so we order 4 kids meals, and it's about $11.00 for the 4 of us to eat. On the 2nd Tuesday of the month, they have a 3 person band play kids songs, Buddy Holly songs, a little Elvis, a little Johnny Cash....etc. The kids LOVE it. - not to mention being able to play in the play area too.

At Steak-n-Shake, kids eat free on weekends....Fazoli's has family nights too with "buy an adult entree' and get kids meals free"...

Or even go to the mall food court - there's a mall here that has a play area for kids, and that was our typical Tuesday night festivity...there was enough variety in the food court we could be good with our choices too.

But really - find some way to get in some "ME time"....stop by a store on the way home you've always wanted to peruse, go fill up your car and take your time, when you get home go for a walk before getting the kids (or take the kids with you if you want) - take the long way home through the woods down a few two-way streets that are less travelled...Ask your husband to take the kids somewhere to play so you can lay down for a little while and decombust...

For what it's worth - and good luck!

Hi, I sent you a friend request and message with ideas. I hope it helps

There is stress like-I just need to rest and relax with a cup of tea. but then there is stress like-I'm overwhelmed and unhappy and need a way to break out of this rut I'm stuck in that is making me so stressed and unhappy. For the former-yoga, tea, restful things.

For the latter-more intense cardio activity

honestly getting away from the stressors helps me. I have an 18 yo and 23 yo and both have given me a tremendous amount of "issues" in the last 4 years. Just being able to get away to walk in a bookstore and browse around, having a cup of coffee & being alone or sometimes talking to a good friend & just unloading. Exercise usually helps me too. Just getting away for a short time though helps me a lot and last but not least PRAYER!!

The reality is that stress is your reaction to things you don't like, but cannot control. May-be you have some influence, but there are things we dislike that we all have to tolerate. For me right now I work in a team of three. My two peers want to advance and are willing to do anything they think will make them look good. It's tough, and I don't want to leave my job, so I have tto deal.

Here's how I cope. First, I give myself half an hour as soon as I come home to decompress. I get on the computer, read personal e-mails, play on Facebook, anything that suits me. Next, I go out with the dogs and get them their exercise. The run, chase their frisbees, and love every second. I find it engrossing enough that I stop thinking about work. I'm not sure what would be engrossing enough for you to help your mind move in a different direction, but I hope you find it.

At this point, I'm settled mentally and do my exercise, usually Just Dance. All of my exercise is xbox kinect games. I have so much fun that it feels less like exercise and more like playing. Then I'll prepare a nice healthy dinner. I find eating foods that I love which are also healthy makes a huge difference is simply feeling good.

Good luck. I was having some impulse control problems and decided to check in here and was so pleased to see your thread. Thinking about constructive solutions got my head back out of the icky place it was in.

Bag of Doritos and a bottle of wine