manage stress more effectively

I think it might be done.

The ways to attack this problem fall into a few different categories: better structure/time management to prevent stress, and better ways to cope with stress once it occurs.

I’m not getting stress-paralyzed anymore. Closing the Ph.D. chapter really helped with that. I’m getting better at time management, and I found some other things that helped.

I’m still learning about relaxation techniques. I’ve been surprised by how much rituals help. Things like drinking a cup of fruity herbal tea or using lavender lotion to signal to myself, “Self, we are relaxing now.” The more I use them to de-stress, the more relaxing they get.

I know that exercise will help too, and I need a plan for how to incorporate that into my life. That’s a BIG goal right now.

To end on a less happy note (d’oh!), this is still a bit of a problem: not necessarily anxiety, but Unhelpful Obsessive Thoughts. I get really vivid pictures of really morbid things and just obsess and obsess. I know that a lot of it is anxiety about the new job/lifestyle and the decisions I’ve made, so I’m hoping it calms down a little bit once I settle into a routine, but I am understanding my mom’s anxiety better every day and that scares me. I think, however, that that’s a separate goal.

I know of lots of ways to manage stress: phone friends, practice yoga, go for a walk, herbal tea, baths, massage, etc. It’s just doing it!! Maybe I should make it a goal to do at least one of these things a day. Right now my guitar seems to be helping, except when I get frustrated when I’m not learning quickly enough!!

in the homestretch here.

One thing I need to focus on is reducing distressing stimuli. Less background noise, fewer distractions, more focusing on just one thing at any given time.

...I kinda think I might have a problem with anxiety.

Tonight was a nice little mini-crisis, and it’s becoming more and more frequent. The pattern: take a fairly legitimate concern and freakin’ OBSESS about it and make myself physically worked up/sick.

I never used to be this way, never had any symptoms of anxiety to accompany the depression. But my mom was a complete nervous wreck when I was growing up; she would let her utterly bizarre fears constrain her life and would flip out at the slightest crisis. She’s much better these days, but I wonder if there’s some hereditary or early-childhood component.

Anyway, I think it’s time to call the doctor. I’m not thrilled about dealing with a new form of Crazy, but this one might be tough to just wish away.

I was analyzing a bunch of data last night, and as I put the last piece into place, a huge, physical, adrenalin-y wave of relief shot over me. I could feel my totally keyed-up nervous system relaxing.

Damn.

I had no idea I got that way about my research. No wonder I avoid it for long periods of time, huh?

This type of physical reaction makes sense in this particular situation, given the tight time constraints I’m under (and how AWESOME the data turned out), but I think it’s how I always am about research.

Wonder what I can do about that.

My car was parked in today until 2:30 p.m., and I completely flipped out. I think it hit me so hard because a better driver probably could have gotten out of it, plus it tapped into all my anxieties about the upcoming move to a more densely populated area. The insanity was reminiscent of Off-The-Meds Asterisk. Not pretty. Luckily, the first person I ran into when I finally got to campus was a friend, and we grabbed coffee while I simmered down. Better coping techniques, please!

I posted an epic in answer to Cdngirl2’s question, and it made me realize…hey, I’ve made progress! I still want to learn to tame the nauseous adrenalin rush that comes when I think about deadlines. It used to be exhilarating, but now it’s just paralyzing.

I am going to try and get a hold of a therapist to help me with this one besides the obvious things to keep this to a minimum, like going to the gym and pampering myself every so often. Also when I get stressed at work I just try to shut my door so that no one ads to my stress by giving me more work to do.

Almost anything these days triggers my adrenalin/fight-or-flight crap, which is not good for my concentration. Anything: being interrupted, not being understood right away, going to the store, having work to do, having work unfinished, having upcoming stuff no matter how completely under control it is…

I am actually going to have to learn some of that close-your-eyes-and-take-a-deep-breath type shit. I like some of the suggestions other people have offered on this goal.

I found a way to do this, which consists of closing your eyes and imagining drawing or painting the stress on a board and then erasing it, it’s amazing at how much help you can offer yourself.