How do you handle STRESS?!?

My husband and I are getting ready to move into our new home, I am hosting two Thanksgivings the same week we move in, my Granddaddy has cancer and is not doing well at all, I basically work two jobs since I work full time plus do the books and payroll for our (husband and I) business, and not to mention the every day things that come up.

What is your advice on dealing with all this stress? I just feel like I am running in circles. I have had a cold for over a month, I can't get rid of it, I am sure because I am so stressed out. I feel like screaming. I try to relax, but things just keep running through my head about what I need to do. Can you help me before I go completely crazy?

When things get overwhelming you need time alone everyday....just 30 minutes to lie down.....put on head phones and listen to relaxing music.....a warm bubble bath with a glass of wine late at night before bed.....

When you have so many events going on you must stay organized....so many simple things can clutter your mind and overload you.
I actually write down daily, weekly and monthly tasks...prioritize them and enter a timeline for them to be complete. A big table-top calendar can do this. I do this at work for projects, at home for projects, activities for my kids, family gatherings etc. and I coach basketball..again I write down goals and tasks.
Writing down things that bother you, things that consume your time, stress you out or make you lose sleep helps soooo much.
When you see it in writing..things fall into place and allows you to see the importance of each.

Lastly...I know you are tired and are not feeling well..but exercise and eat right........walk every other day, workout...NO fastfood...eat plenty of veggies and fruit....don't miss meals cuz your too tired or too busy!!

Good Luck
Have a great Thanksgiving Day Meal!!

Hit the gym then have sex. works for me and my wife.

See stress, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on page 42. Why are you taking all of this on? LEARN HOW TO SAY: "I'D LIKE TO, BUT I REALLY HAVE TOO MUCH ON MY PLATE AT THE MOMENT, AND AM JUST NOT IN A POSITION TO ACCEPT, RIGHT NOW".

I don't handle stress well either, but you need to make sure you take a little time, even an hour a day to do something you enjoy that is relaxing like yoga, taking a bath, reading, listening to music, watching tv, etc.

You really need to take some time for yourself. Indulge yourself in something you enjoy doing. Don't let things build up inside, talk to someone or write your feelings down even.

Try to think positive there is always someone in a worse position as yourself.

Wow! You sound like me! I like to relieve stress by running a nice hot bath, turning down the lights, burning some scented candles, and turn on some smoothing music. It works wonders!

Get an assist. It seems to me you have alot on your plate.

You definitely are burning the candle at both ends and you can't keep doing it..... I've heard that before too...... but it doesn't give a solution does it??

Take time at the beginning of each day (even in bed before getting up)...... thank God for all His goodness..... ask Him for strength, wisdom and guidance for the day. He will help you more than you can realize.

You certainly have over extended yourself so it is no wonder you are stressed! As for the Thanksgivings ask friends/family to bring a dish so you don't have to do all cooking yourself. Don't worry about what the house looks like since you will have just moved in and people will understand that. Bottom line is just enjoy the time with friends and family and don't worry about everything being perfect...and if you need it then ask for help!!!

Take garlic pills and vitamin C everyday to help get rid of your cold and strengthen your immune system.

Take Vitamin B complex to help you deal with stress.

Also another good stress reliever is just to take it easy, listen to music, don't let things bother you so much, pray, spend time with family, talk to a friend and vent or rant and get it out of your system, etc.

Life is hard as it is and then stress comes along and makes it a hundred times harder.

I wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Cheers and *hugs*

try some yoga and breathing exercises...best way

or get drunk

Stress can kill you! My sister had stress (dealing with husbands cancer) it was shutting down her kidneys! She's on meds now...I don't advocate drug use! You need to find some ME time to just relax, it's important! Good luck! P.S. Sis thought it was just a cold too!

When I get really stressed, I escape to somewhere peaceful, like a local park (not one with a playground full of screaming kids :-) ). Take a hike or sit down somewhere quiet and just watch birds fly or squirrels play. Try to banish all the thoughts from your mind for 5 minutes and just concentrate on the smells, sounds, the feel of grass, etc...

Or, if you can't do that, after everyone is asleep sit in your favorite chair and just cry. Sounds odd, but it seems to help relieve the tension.

If you can afford it, get a massage or your hair or nails done. Pamper yourself!

My last idea is to start a journal. Sometimes putting thoughts into writing helps to get them out of your head and gives you an opportunity to think about things in a different way.

Good luck!

This sounds pretty rough. i would ask someone to help me pick up some of the busy work. Take a day off from work just to relax and gather your thoughts about things. You need to get some good rest or you will be burnt out all the time. I was in a similar situation doing school and work full time for a year straight. Every now and then I would take off to prevent myself from losing my mind.

Hey, welcome to my world. My wife and I started new careers (just out of college at the time), moved into a new house, got married and threw 2 parties all in a 3 week period, all while my mother was dying of cancer. Talk about stressful.

My wife and I delt with it differently. You need a break, get away from it if for only a little while. Do something that gets your mind off of it. Going and having a quiet night out does not help, you will think about it. Going out and doing something does. Something that you normally don't do. Go skydiving, go bungee jumping, do something crazy (yet legal).

WOW you have alot on your plate girl. Let me tell you a little secret. I used to work as hard as you do. I was always stressed to the point it was making me sick. I was working usually 18 hours a day and when i tried to sleep it was impossible, i just thought of work. My home came second. I have recenty changed careers. I am worked a little less, my home life is put before my work life. You need to prioritize your life. If your granddady is sick spend some time with him, that is one thing you will regret if something happens, is not spending the time with him. Remember family first. take time to heal your cold, your body is probably worn down. You husband should have seen this already and should tell you to stay in bed for a day get a good rest which you are probably not getting. Always remember you only live once, enjoy life. Work should always come after family and not before. A job you can find anywhere and a family you cant. Hope this helps sweetie

i listen to music and it calms me down

Deep breathing works for me. You can do this sitting/standing straight or just lying straight on the bed. Place one hand on your abdomen; as you inhale, your abdomen should expand. As you exhale, your abdomen should deflate. The trick about exhaling is: exhale SLOWLY THROUGH PURSED LIPS.

All you need is 5 minutes. Try to do it at least 3 times in a day.

I do this exercise with a some affirmations in my head. (You can alter it to your needs.) As I inhale, I begin to think: With this breath, I release my pain. ( by the end of the sentence, you should have exhaled). It goes on with: ...I release my insecurities, ...I release my stress...
You get the idea.

Deep breathing triggers the relaxation response in our body which is why this helps. When we are stressed, we emit a huge amount of carbon dioxide which is harmful to our health. So I suggest you take it slow.

My mother has a good advice which I use when ever I'm stuck in such chaotic situations. "You only have a pair of hands, which means you can only do one thing at a time."

I suggest you find time to sit down with a clear head, get a notebook and list all the stuff that needs to be handled. From there, create a CHECKLIST for each event. Eg: what are the stuff that needs to be done for Thanksgiving. What's to note for moving house?

Things are always clearer when you write them down rather than let them swim in your head. When I was preparing to move house, I had a little notebook that I brought with me when I go to the furniture stores, speaking with renovators etc, so I can jot down anything. It's not neat or properly categorized (because it does not need to be so). But you know that all the little notes, telephone numbers, etc are in there whenever you need it.

Remember: it's all in the planning. Plan your work, plan your time, stick to deadlines. And stop worrying.

Accept what is happening.
Stress is a result of resisting.

work out, get involved in a good book, go shopping.