Stress management

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• February 25, 2010 2:47 p.m.

  Whenever I hit the wall, I go out and take a long walk, check into a local health clinic for some hydrotherapy or a massage, or call a friend. All these efforts revive me and I'm ready to return to life a again.

  - barbara A

• February 10, 2010 1:32 a.m.

  same here! Mistakes are the best and wisest teachers, they change the rules of the game we play, all the time. What level of anxiety can we manage? This might be the issue

  - piergiulio

• February 5, 2010 9:53 a.m.

  This reminds me of a mistake I made at work. Fortunately I caught my error in time. I called the patient to make sure I had corrected the problem and to apologize for my error. He was my most favorite patient and I felt terrible. He replied, "Carol, remember, if you never make a mistake, you are not doing anthing." The graciousness he afforded me I will never forget.

  - carol

• February 4, 2010 1:10 p.m.

  My husband and I travel back and forth from Florida to New Zealand three times a year and have experienced all the levels of "hitting the wall", or as we say, "coming unglued". We have learned to accept our physical and mental conditions on arrival instead of trying to overcome them, and ask friends and colleagues to give us a breather until we're back to whatever normal is, for us. Your splendid article validated our own experiences.

  - Joan

• February 4, 2010 12:46 p.m.

  When we hit the wall, we suddenly look at everything around us in a different perspective - This may actually help you realistically asses the situation you are in, jump back on your feet and move ahead with confidence!

  - Timesheet Tracker

• February 4, 2010 5:33 a.m.

  It's a wise man/woman who knows his/her limitations.

  - Roberta

• February 3, 2010 4:50 p.m.

  If the mistakes are too grave to forgive yourself because they have harmed others then how can we learn from them?

  - Jane

• February 3, 2010 11:20 a.m.

  I know what you mean I have had alot of stressors in my life in the last probably 10 years. With losing my job, family dying & my husband going through cancer treatments and finally now thanks to God is alright. Lately I have been trying to take time for myself to heal but I just wish that my oldest son understood why I am not working right now. And what I have been going through in my life.

  - Becky

• February 3, 2010 6:41 a.m.

  I can most definately relate to your situation, as can most people. I found that when I was in school and studying that the best thing i did for myself was to go out for a long walk periodically. I also encouraged my sons to do the same thing. We tend to forget our limitations and so put extra pressure on ourselves. A very famous and smart man once said "a man never makes a mistake if he learns from it".

  - Barbara

• February 2, 2010 3:03 p.m.

  For over a year now, I've been hit with stressors out of my control, one right after another...new boss, several major life changes, many deaths, etc....I've been knocked off my feet and before I can balance again, here comes a new one. What I'm realizing is each new stressor requires its own amount of time to adjust or "process" it mentally, emotionally, physically. This does not happen on a schedule convenient to someone else--it is at a pace that even I can't seem to choose. Some of the things would not be such a big deal if I wasn't already knocked for a loop. But here I am, trying not to flail around wildly. So. It has helped me tremendously just to realize that this is what is going on, and to purposefully give myself permission to take whatever time it takes to feel like I've found balance again. I just wish it weren't so hard for others to understand what is happening to me.

  - Susan

• February 1, 2010 2:55 p.m.

  I definitely hit the wall a few months ago. In the process of writing my book, I had the assigment from a book coach to do research on the second half of the book. Now I've never been able to reconcile with the concept of research. I'd much rather do free style writing. Forget looking up three websites and coming up with two sentences. Three months of this caused severe stress. So I handed the job over to her. Now I can concentrate on what gives me joy, teaching music, writing comedy, and working in a nursing home and a preschool. Barbara A, author of "Cty Depression, Celebrate Recovery."

  - Barbara A

• January 30, 2010 12:58 p.m.

  Yes, I can relate to your story. At my work, I'm bounced back and forth from day to evening shifts daily with no set days off. My (outside the Mayo system) doctors finally discovered a source of mounting health complaints--My upper G.I. system hasn't adjusted to this irratic work schedule with no set meal times. I am feeling as if I've failed myself because the damage to my upper digestive system may already be done. Thanks for sharing your story, it helps me feel a bit better today!

  - Carol