Stress Reduction Methods

[HisGraceAbounds]

I've been told by a few specialists that I see for a variety of issues that I need to reduce my stress level and find ways to keep it down. Stress is having a detrimental effect on my body so it's pretty serious. Currently I do the following things:

Eat clean. Lean proteins, lots of veggies, fewer carbs than most average folks, no alcohol, lots of water.

Workout. 5-6 days a week. Weightlifting each day, 1 hour of cardio each day. If I'm not dripping sweat from forehead to belly-button, I didn't work hard enough.

Sleep. I could do better but I still get around 6 hours a night of quality sleep. My fitness tracker monitors my sleep and I do far better than average in terms of amount of restorative and REM sleep, and IU wake up about 25% as often during the night as most folks.

Relaxation. I take epsom salt baths about twice a week for recuperation. I try to sit quietly and concentrate on my breathing and being hyper-aware of my surroundings and situation - I do this about once per day.

Meds. I'm on anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and a blood pressure medication. I'm well sedated but still run a resting pulse of 90+ at 43 years old.



...I'm kind of stuck as to what to try next. I'm getting a massage on Friday, which has me really nervous (I don't like people touching me, and a massage is in my personal space with someone's hands all over my back where I can't see them). I know I need to reduce my stress but I'm just not finding anything that seems to offer much relief. Advice?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I found universally that the use of medicine increases the need for more medicine, and increases everyone's stress level. Perhaps there are some exceptions, and sometimes the artificial devices may be 'needed' for a time due to uncontrolled circumstances/ urgent care/ or some such reason... ? As always on this forum, do not attempt to self-medicate nor to stop nor reduce medication a doctor has said is needed, until a medical/ health professional is available to safely monitor any changes.

It seems counter-productive to go get a massage, especially if it already stresses more.....

I would look up what other people have found reduces stress, always always always in line with the Bible, never new age or whatever opposed to the Bible,
and
of course, see what the Bible says about who God gives peace to.... this might be very helpfiul, or not.

 

[Halbhh]

I've been told by a few specialists that I see for a variety of issues that I need to reduce my stress level and find ways to keep it down. Stress is having a detrimental effect on my body so it's pretty serious. Currently I do the following things:

Eat clean. Lean proteins, lots of veggies, fewer carbs than most average folks, no alcohol, lots of water.

Workout. 5-6 days a week. Weightlifting each day, 1 hour of cardio each day. If I'm not dripping sweat from forehead to belly-button, I didn't work hard enough.

Sleep. I could do better but I still get around 6 hours a night of quality sleep. My fitness tracker monitors my sleep and I do far better than average in terms of amount of restorative and REM sleep, and IU wake up about 25% as often during the night as most folks.

Relaxation. I take epsom salt baths about twice a week for recuperation. I try to sit quietly and concentrate on my breathing and being hyper-aware of my surroundings and situation - I do this about once per day.

Meds. I'm on anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and a blood pressure medication. I'm well sedated but still run a resting pulse of 90+ at 43 years old.



...I'm kind of stuck as to what to try next. I'm getting a massage on Friday, which has me really nervous (I don't like people touching me, and a massage is in my personal space with someone's hands all over my back where I can't see them). I know I need to reduce my stress but I'm just not finding anything that seems to offer much relief. Advice?

Physical things help to an extent. I know, having done many, and very well too. (exercise, time off to be in nature, yoga, meditation, the very best diet...)

What is far more ideal is to gain that "peace" and "rest" that God gives we know (and I know first hand, having once been a more anxious person, long ago). Where is the path to that? Here --

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11 NIV

So, to listen and learn from Him, and gain that peace and rest in your soul, and begin the real end of anxiousness, begin to listen to all He says, and take it in. You'll want to start where He begins to teach:
Matthew 3 NIV

 

[bèlla]

Greetings,

Make a list of your daily activities and what you do in your down time. Don’t leave anything out. Assign a joy quotient for everything mentioned. Use a scale from 1-5:

1 - Most stressful
2 - Some stress
3 - Neutral
4 - Like doing
5 - Love doing

Review your results. Try to intersperse fours and fives throughout your day and consider eliminating or outsourcing ones if possible.

Since you derive pleasure from exercise, you may enjoy pilates or local groups involving sports. If your stress is work-related, see if working from home or at different times is an option.

~Bella

 

[A_Thinker]

I've been told by a few specialists that I see for a variety of issues that I need to reduce my stress level and find ways to keep it down. Stress is having a detrimental effect on my body so it's pretty serious. Currently I do the following things:

Eat clean. Lean proteins, lots of veggies, fewer carbs than most average folks, no alcohol, lots of water.

Workout. 5-6 days a week. Weightlifting each day, 1 hour of cardio each day. If I'm not dripping sweat from forehead to belly-button, I didn't work hard enough.

Sleep. I could do better but I still get around 6 hours a night of quality sleep. My fitness tracker monitors my sleep and I do far better than average in terms of amount of restorative and REM sleep, and IU wake up about 25% as often during the night as most folks.

Relaxation. I take epsom salt baths about twice a week for recuperation. I try to sit quietly and concentrate on my breathing and being hyper-aware of my surroundings and situation - I do this about once per day.

Meds. I'm on anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and a blood pressure medication. I'm well sedated but still run a resting pulse of 90+ at 43 years old.



...I'm kind of stuck as to what to try next. I'm getting a massage on Friday, which has me really nervous (I don't like people touching me, and a massage is in my personal space with someone's hands all over my back where I can't see them). I know I need to reduce my stress but I'm just not finding anything that seems to offer much relief. Advice?

You seem to working really hard to relax.

"Workout. 5-6 days a week. Weightlifting each day, 1 hour of cardio each day. If I'm not dripping sweat from forehead to belly-button, I didn't work hard enough."

Do you like reading ? Strolls through the park ?

To relax a bit, ... yiu have to be willing to "waste" a little time (i.e. to spend time .. without really accomplishing anything) ...

 

[ChristianGirl_96]

Bookmarking!

 

[HisGraceAbounds]

You seem to working really hard to relax

I have to work at it because it doesn't come naturally on its own. I'm consistently tense. I'm looking for something to help me release some of that. The tension turns to pain sometimes.

 

[Julian of Norwich]

I find that what helps me to reduce stress and .... just all the time, is saying the Jesus Prayer to the inhalation and exhalation of breath: (inhale)"Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, (exhale) have Mercy on me, a sinner." It is also a way of "praying without ceasing". Say (and breath) the prayer as much of the time as you can. It can even become a semi-conscious habit for all of the time!

 

[johndoo]

Meditation. I can suggest some sites if interested.

 

[JackRT]

I found that that Tai Chi relieved my stress quite well. It is not a physically demanding exercise but it requires a good deal of mental concentration.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I've been told by a few specialists that I see for a variety of issues that I need to reduce my stress level and find ways to keep it down. Stress is having a detrimental effect on my body so it's pretty serious. Currently I do the following things:

Eat clean. Lean proteins, lots of veggies, fewer carbs than most average folks, no alcohol, lots of water.

Workout. 5-6 days a week. Weightlifting each day, 1 hour of cardio each day. If I'm not dripping sweat from forehead to belly-button, I didn't work hard enough.

Sleep. I could do better but I still get around 6 hours a night of quality sleep. My fitness tracker monitors my sleep and I do far better than average in terms of amount of restorative and REM sleep, and IU wake up about 25% as often during the night as most folks.

Relaxation. I take epsom salt baths about twice a week for recuperation. I try to sit quietly and concentrate on my breathing and being hyper-aware of my surroundings and situation - I do this about once per day.

Meds. I'm on anti-anxiety meds, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and a blood pressure medication. I'm well sedated but still run a resting pulse of 90+ at 43 years old.



...I'm kind of stuck as to what to try next. I'm getting a massage on Friday, which has me really nervous (I don't like people touching me, and a massage is in my personal space with someone's hands all over my back where I can't see them). I know I need to reduce my stress but I'm just not finding anything that seems to offer much relief. Advice?

I see a lot of stress in your de-stressing program. One good way to de-stress is to de-clutter and simplify your daily life. All those meds will ensure that you will remain stressed as well as they drive your body mercilessly.

I have found that peaceful rest (body, mind, and soul) is the best stress reliever. Rather than adding yet more stressors perhaps you might discard some of them.

 

[HisGraceAbounds]

I see a lot of stress in your de-stressing program. One good way to de-stress is to de-clutter and simplify your daily life. All those meds will ensure that you will remain stressed as well as they drive your body mercilessly.

I have found that peaceful rest (body, mind, and soul) is the best stress reliever. Rather than adding yet more stressors perhaps you might discard some of them.

I might provide the link to a YouTube video I published about my living situation. I think you might get a smile out of it considering you were talking about de-cluttering and simplifying.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I might provide the link to a YouTube video I published about my living situation. I think you might get a smile out of it considering you were talking about de-cluttering and simplifying.

I would be interested, thanks.