[Thread] How do you deal with stress?

Everyone one has there own way to deal with stress.

My suggestion would be to not apply other’s idea and book an appointment in NIMHANS if you are still in Bangalore.

The sooner you start taking care of this, the more you will be relaxed.

Also, please don’t be dependent on meds. It will take time but you will be able to deal with this on your own.

What’s causing the stress? Pay? Work? Layoffs? Marriage? For layoffs fear, you can spend daily sometime on upskilling? FOMO, cut social media?

I don’t think there would be a single solution. Identify the problem, work daily to make it better. But at some point you’ve to make peace with it, Not living in present worrying about future events won’t help a bit.

I go for long bicycle rides or swim. These 2 activities help me disconnect from devices and spend some time in real world.

I have dealt with anxiety in the past and have overcome it. This happened few months before my engineering exam preparations. I used to follow a packed schedule and used to sleep 6 hrs daily, and started just sleeping 5hrs when this started. Somehow my body tried to adapt to this, so I wouldn't feel sleepy at night. Also I used to worry a lot as well about exams. Then I increased my physical activity, thinking being more tired would help in sleeping and it worked for few weeks. But again my body adapted to it. I increased my physical activity a lot more. Again after couple of days my body again adapted to it and I started loosing sleep again. At this point I would just sleep 1 out of 3 days and would feel tired all the time. Also consulted a doctor and had to take a sleeping pill before my board exam. Pretty much had to give my exams in this state.

What worked: Since exam anxiety was the root cause, it started getting better after exams. But even after exams, if I get too stressed, I still get this problem.

1. What finally worked was change in my mindset. I used to worry too much. Had to learn how to be more chill.
2. Getting enough sunlight during day is also important. During my exam preparation, pretty much used to be inside rooms in artificial lights
3. Doing something other than studies/work. Some kind of relaxing hobby
4. Last but not the least, believing that this will get better. I faced hopelessness in this stage which prolonged this. Believe that this will get better.

Currently whenever I feel I'm going to reach same level of anxiety due to work, I drop everything to relax. Doesn't matter what deadline it is, because health comes first and I don't have the courage to go through all this again

Tried therapy, going out, hobbies, workout, sports. Nothing really helped, all temporary escapes.

Going back to hometown. Getting into a relationship and getting married. Permanently resolved the issue. Good luck

You need to do a mindset shift at a deeper level. Depersonalise yourself from work.
Work hard but don't let it get personal. This is easier said than done. Took me over a year to see some significant changes.
Following tools helped me a lot:

Regular journaling to let out my thoughts and vent Gratitude journaling daily (made me realise there is so much more to be thankful for than to be worried for) Fixing circadian rhythm (still working on it) Daily sunlight and moonlight exposure (this has a magical effect on anxiety. Just try for 15 days and see a difference) Taking sick leaves and logging off early to avoid burnout. It's very important to recognise burnout before it actually happens. If your anxiety is increasing, take a day off. Maybe spend your evenings with friends/family that day. Or revisit a hobby Reading is also a miracle for anxiety. Physical separation of work and personal phone is of utmost importance. Please please please keep two different sets if you don't already. See the impact in a month!

I have been dealing with anxiety related issues since a decade now. Cause of my anxiety i figured out lately were too much perfection and high expectations and not looking at life other than work. I still am very serious about work and public impression and a bad day just spoils my week. I am trying daily yoga and evening walks. The important thing which works for me is taking baby steps and not wait for perfection.

I often sleep late too due to high anxiety. I understand what you must be going through, and like you I am also doing everything on my hand to avoid sleep medications and therapy visits. Some changes I have induced that I feel are helping me out

Morning workout (I have forced myself to exercise in the morning so that my body and mind starts feeling tired faster into the night). The workout should be of moderate-high intensity: preferably running or lifting, both is even better

Clean diet, as much as possible but allow yourself to have your comfort food/snack in moderation

Limit alcohol/smoking. No caffeine post 5pm or atleast 8/10 hrs before you go to sleep

Chamomile tea before bed time, atleast 2 tea bags, some nights it's even 3 bags. Melatonin once or twice a week. VitD-Mag supplements as well (you can amazon MagnextD)

Read before bed time, nothing technical/functional/business/economic stuff. Because that gets your mind thinking on higher gears at that time of the night. Preferably graphic novels, memoirs or travel writing (but feel free to adapt accordingly)

All this is more geared towards helping you sleep earlier at night than directly relieving stress on spot, but it helps. I don't meditate, but I pray and that helps. You can try dynamic mediation too - like seriously picking up and playing a musical instrument, or board games (they are great too)

Hope you get through this. And likewise looking out at this thread to see what others are doing too

Work, office politics, Marriage, fear of Layoffs was (in fact it is) causing a lot of stress. I started doing meditation in the morning, at least the sleep problem is solved. I still need to figure out ways to reduce anxiety and stress.

Work stress? Sir it's nothing compared to a fresher being unemployed 😃 Atleast you have a job cherish that.