Stress management

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• September 25, 2007 3:26 p.m.

  My best habits to prevent stress or the blues: Every evening, make a journal entry of all positive chores done that day, and always make a short list of chores for the next day...you should sleep better,having a positive plan for each day. It works for me!

  - Ruth Martsolf

• September 25, 2007 3:22 p.m.

  Dr. Creagan's self-help method of making a daily list of things to do for himself is great. That's one thing I need to do more often. Like many of us, I am better at mentally/emotionally beating myself up than I am at taking care of me. Thanks for the suggestion, Doctor Creagan!! Great blog.

  - Mary

• September 25, 2007 3:19 p.m.

  I have developed severe depression,I have been diagnosed with chronic myofacial pain syndrome and been placed on several restrictions. No prolonged sitting,standing,bending,pushing,pulling,lifting more than ten pounds etc. etc. They finally found out that I had two severely torn discs,nerve impingement from a herniated disc. A lot of this was missed on the MRI's that were done but were found during a discograhm. This was a severely painful procedure. On top of all of this I was overweight before the wreck and have gain more weight since the wreck so I now have been told to lose the weight,quit smoking,and try to get back into shape. I am completely lost, I lost 25lbs and quit smoking for about two months after that and gained the weight back. I am seeing a pain specialist and I have one more option called spinal cord stimulation therapy. A small disc in placed under the skin and basically it is set up to confuse the brain. The brain will feel the stimualtion instead of pain. More blog.

  - Mag

• September 25, 2007 3:19 p.m.

  I had constant nausea for two months and lost 15 lbs. the pharmacist recommended Oralyte (same as Pediolyte) and it helped a lot. Also recommended CoEnzymeQ-10. My enzymes were out of balance. But FIRST, ask to see a specialist SOON!

  - Nanxy

• September 25, 2007 2:59 p.m.

  MPH - Music, Pets, and Humor.

  - Tracey

• September 25, 2007 2:59 p.m.

  Paula,Does your daughter feel like her illness is caused by stress. I am a strong believer that people should be involved with their own health care. Doctors are not God,have her tell them what she thinks, don't just assumed they are correct because they have a DR. in front of their name. I don't mean to dis the docs but if a patient does not participate they often get it wrong.To me it sure sounds like a lot more then stress. Four years we were on our way home after a relaxing afternoon when a three quarter ton pickup pulling a trailer with tons of hay practically ran over us in our little four cylinder car while stopped at a red light.He was traveling about fourty miles per hour. I have been in PT for two years, massage therapy, biofeed back and several doctors who have done several tests.I lost my job because I had several flares of back and neck pain while inducing several more migraines than I have ever had before. Looks like I will have to continue on a different blog. MAG

  - Mag

• September 25, 2007 1:56 p.m.

  I think we have to consider other aspects of stress. Not only it comes to super-workers with many responsibilitis. Sometimes you got stressed with the lack of information about your job. About your career in the future! As a project manager I'm always stressed when I'm endind a project because I'm not sure how long I'll be off-duty. In my company, being a 53 years old off-duty professional is not a safe condition. Anyway, I agree with the paralel activities such as running or exercising everyday, and I would also include some mental exercises like studying a new thing, different from your profession. I'm now studying Philosophy and it helps me change my concentration focus (worries?).

  - Henrique

• September 25, 2007 1:37 p.m.

  I spend hours in front of a computer screen almost every day. I have a post-it note stuck at the top of the monitor that says: "Get up stretch, then 10 deep breathes." I close my eyes during the breathing exercise. I feel a lot better and hopefully more relaxed.

  - Jack Shimell

• September 25, 2007 12:45 p.m.

  To the lady whose daughter has been vomiting for so long and dehydrated I would seek another physician, perhaps an endocrinologist. Whoever is treating her is not a very astute diagnostician. There are many ways to make a person comfortable and so many drugs and alternatives such as acupuncture that would help this young lady. Please find her another health care provider even if you have to pay for it yourself and not rely on some managed care program that obviously is not working at all.

  - Judy

• September 24, 2007 7:02 p.m.

  Nice knowing I'm not alone in stories about trouble w/ multitasking. My anxiety disorder is part of it, but I believe if I could learn how to manage my stress, I could have a better chance of success in a job. Exercise is good. Seeking out people who give positive feedback and encourage me is the best:)

  - Sandra

• September 24, 2007 3:43 p.m.

  PS---should read Cheers--not heers.

  - chuck

• September 24, 2007 3:37 p.m.

  Now stress free after Dr. Deen (neurology)placed a shunt in my brain to drain SPF. Dr.VanGerpen discovered the SPF excess and three days later Surgery took place. 3 days later I'm home enjoying "Friends" thanks to VanGerpen. 3 heers for both of them.

  - Chuck Heiden

• September 24, 2007 11:01 a.m.

  When I'm super stressed about something, I stop and think about people who have it worse than me. There's always someone with bigger problems than mine. Not that it diminishes the importance of my own problems in my life, but it helps me keep them in perspective.

  - Lynn

• September 22, 2007 8:29 p.m.

  I get overwhelmed easily these days with work,home,relationship,blah,blah,blah......and get stresssed out BIG time!!! I've come to realize that I cause all my own stress so I should be able to alleviate or eliminate it! I'm working on it and I'll share with you all how I'm doing. As others have said,my pets bring me a lot of joy and are always there to greet me when I get home. I have a dog,5 cats and a bird. Take a deep breath,relax and think wonderful thoughts........until next time, Em

  - Emma

• September 20, 2007 2:59 p.m.

  IIcn;t keepy solid down either; can't sleep and bvouiolu can't type well (AFER 23 YEAARS of doing same)...any commmuicatioonn with sooooomeonesufferingf from this consditioon and any suggstistions for moninoritiging this pain will be ssoooooooooooooo appreciatded.

  - carol sieck

• September 20, 2007 1:54 p.m.

  My pets help me deal with stress. They're so happy to see me when I get home from work. Even at the end of a very busy and stressful day, they calm me down.

  - Ron

• September 20, 2007 12:21 p.m.

  I didn't even know I was stressed out. But as my boyfriend cautiously pointed out, I must be. I am always running 90 miles an hour, I have chronic chest tightness, difficulty breathing regularly, an infection that won't go away, paranoia, awful circular thoughts ("catastrophizing"), low self-esteem, several extra pounds and incredible irritability and unhappy days. I am a student full-time with challenging courses(I want to be a doctor) and I also work full-time as a waitress to pay the bills. I hate my job but I can't quit work or I'll have to quit school and school's what keeps me going, stressful as it may be. I've read all the "meditate/yoga" suggestions. When I meditate, my head spins. I exercise about 5 days a week, including some yoga. I can't afford to go see a doctor because I can't afford health insurance. I was seeing a counselor, who said I'm fine and "graduated" me. Help! Any advice that I have not already heard/read would be appreciated! I wa

  - C

• September 20, 2007 10:17 a.m.

  Awesome, bestest blog

  - tiny

• September 20, 2007 10:04 a.m.

  this is an awesome blog

  - peter

• September 20, 2007 5:41 a.m.

  My daughter has been sick for five years, beginning when she became pregnant.Since the birth she has gotten sick periodically.This time she has been sick for 5 months, extreme vomiting, doesn't urinate often,lost 50 or so pounds,can't keep no solid foods down at all and liquids some days, dehydration to the point of putting in a mediport because her veins blow out constantly when trying to give her fluids.All sorts of tests have been run and nothing found.Since they can find no specific cause, the doctors have now said they think it is stress related. I know she is stressed, having been vomiting every day for 5 months, but I am not completely convinced that stress is the cause, but she is going to counseling to help deal. The doctor says this is how her brain has been programmed to deal with stress.Change your life or die - that's what they said! I just hope they know what they are talking about and haven't missed something!

  - Paula