Help on how to lose stress...?

Question

Okay, lately I've been really stressed with school, home, and friends, especially with my thoughts. Its like every time something bad happens or like if my thoughts get me sad and depressed my heart hurts really bad like it won't stop hurting, even when i'm in a good mood. I would see a doctor but my mom doesn't have medical insurance for me, and not enough money. I have a fear that I may have a heart attack, and I'm trying to calm down and get rid of my stress...can anyone help me out with suggestions of how to lose stress? I'd really much apreciate it.

Answer 1

1. KEEP A DIARY
Keep a list - for at least a fortnight - of events, times, places and people that seem to make you feel more stressed. You will probably be surprised to find that a pattern soon emerges; and this may be linked to time pressure, personality clashes, inappropriate demands or simply trying to do too many things at once. Once you have identified your pressure points you can move on to the following solutions...
2. TALK
Talk through your diary with a good friend or your partner - even the act of discussing things often makes you feel better. Ask for impartial advice as to how to ease the problems that you have discovered, or choose the sort of stressful situations that you have identified in which to use the following relaxation techniques.

3. LEARN HOW TO RELAX
•Practise deep-breathing techniques such as slowly inhaling while counting to five; hold your breath for five seconds then breathe out slowly. Repeat this 10 times when feeling stressed, concentrating on nothing but your breathing.
•Stretch the muscles of your neck and shoulders by keeping your shoulders level and trying to touch each shoulder with your ear. Look right up at the ceiling, down at the floor and then rotate each shoulder in a wide circle. Repeat five times. Open and close your jaw widely after each time since stress often causes tenseness in the jaw area.
• Take time out. For five minutes every hour, try to 'shut down' and think of nothing but your perfect situation. This could be a dream holiday, ideal partner or simply thinking about doing nothing at all. You will be surprised at how effectively this can lower stress levels.

4. EXERCISE REGULARLY
You do not have to be a gym freak to get the stress-beating benefits of exercise. Even 20 minutes of brisk walking three times a week will help to reduce stress as well as promoting restful sleep.


5. PLAN BREAKS IN YOUR DAY
The aim here is to allow time for the unexpected (which, as we all know, will happen!). Get up 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to and prepare for the day without rushing. Even better, get things ready the night before. Try to have 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon that is exclusively 'your' time, in which you can do whatever you want, even if it is simply sitting doing nothing. Look forward to these times when things get busy and if you are unable to use them always remember to 'catch up' later on.


AND ONE THING NOT TO DO...
One approach, on the other hand, to avoid, is that of using smoking and alcohol as crutches to help you cope - in the long run they simply make stress worse. Drinking more to 'calm your nerves' is a slippery slope.

• Dr Henderson is a GP and medical columnist who is a regular contributor to The Sunday Times and other national papers and magazines. His book, 'Stress Beaters - 100 Proven Ways to Manage Stress' is published by Metro Books at £7.99.


...AND FIVE MORE SIMPLE STRESS RELIEVERS


Ingrid Miller offers five handy stressbusting techniques to use in everyday situations…



1. STRETCH
Sitting upright on a chair, and keeping your back straight, extend your arms out in front of you as far as possible. Hold for ten seconds. Repeat, with your arms behind you. Then hold on to the sides of your chair and push your body upwards. Feel your spine stretch. Hold for ten. Now stretch arms to the ceiling, to release tension in back and shoulders. Relax and shake your arms.


2. USE SCENT TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD
Certain aromas are thought to activate the production of the brain's feel-good chemical serotonin [although one recent research study suggests that the benefits claimed for aromatherapy may derive from the power of suggestion. Ed.]. Drip a few drops of the following aromatherapy oils on a tissue to sniff when you feel stress levels rising: jasmine, neroli, lavender, chamomile, vetiver, clary sage.


3. DE-CLUTTER
Mess creates confusion and a sense of loss of power. If your desk/home/car is messy and disorganised, have a good clear out and tidy up. You'll instantly feel more in control.


4. CHANGE THE HABIT
Many stresses are habitual. If you start to feel anxious or stressed out, do something out of character. Stop what you're doing and do something else. Or take a minute to take stock and work out why you're feeling uptight.


5. THINK POSITIVE
Use 'affirmations' - positive strands of thought put into words. Repeating, 'I am a loving and much loved person', can work wonders. Say it and believe it. And it will become true.

• Ingrid Miller is the agony aunt of Essentials Magazine.

Answer 2

I have learned that setting up a schedule of what I have to do on a daily basis keeps me focused and less stressed. Also allow some personal time for self , to relax, play music or just something fun - include this in your schedule. If you take time for yourself, even if it is 30 minutes each day it will help to decrease the stress. Each day make a list of things that you have to do and if you see that you are including to many things that you can do later then remove some of them. Many people suffer stress because they run around each day trying to do everything for everyone. And finally bad things in life are going to happen, but if you remember that the bad makes way for the good this should help. The results of over-stressing can not only lead to physical problems, but psychological problems as well. Usually every city has a free clinic of sorts, seek it out for help because if you are having pain then your stress is getting worse. From a profession point of view you appear to be entering into a stage of depression and this should be addressed before it gets out of control.

Answer 3

Try beating up your pillow, that helps stress. Walk as much as you can and talk out the things bothering you..it helps. Do anything physical like mopping, cleaning of something to put your energy into . Cry, give yourself a nice cry and stop holding things in. Go to your pastor and speak with him. Exercise will help relieve stress too.
Last but not least, Pray. God will help you if you will just ask.

Answer 4

At the end of each day, write down every single thing that was good that happen to you...no matter how small, and focas on it. Try to get some time to yourself to relax and only think of positive things...eg - future goals etc....
Whenever any thing negative happens in your life, you need to vent, to get it off your chest...I personally write it all down, (because there isn't anyone that would understand) read it three times, then delete it, as I would the actual problem.
I hope this helps - you are so young - the world is your oyster with so many opportunities and choices and you really don't need a heart attack right now.....

Answer 5

Hmm, your heart (physically) hurts? I sense a medical, rather than an emotional, problem. Are you in school? If in college, you could go to the college clinic for free or a small fee, depending on the college. If you are younger than college age, I have no idea where you could seek help.

As for reducing stress that is not medically related, things that have worked for me would be running, yoga...or any form of exercise you enjoy, writing, talking to close friends.

Good luck!

Answer 6

It sounds like you may have anxiety. I've suffered a lot of anxiety attacks in my early teen years. I over came it all with positive thinking. When you're sitting there thinking about all the negative things do any activity to get your mind off it. Something silly that I use to do when I was feeling like my heart was going to explode was color in a coloring book. It's relaxing for me, and reminds me of when I was a child, when I had no stresses or worries. I was not the type of pre-teen to get professional help, or help from my mom. So I dealt with it on my own, may have not been the best choice but it worked for me. So when you feel it happening do something to get it off your mind.

Answer 7

Well, you should really try and just take a time out for your self. Just relax in the bed. Close your eyes, and just let your mind wander freely. As time goes on your stress will start to disappear in form of ideas that wander in your mind. Soon you will be relaxed. That is what I do. I just close my eyes, and let my mind lose/free. It relaxes itself automatically. If that does not work, than watch some t.v. watch some comedy movies, or shows or something. If that still does not work, than find something that relaxes you, meaning that gives you inner peace, and try that!

Answer 8

you should just take a weekend off, go to the beach with your family or pet, or go shopping. That should take off some of your stress. Good Luck

Answer 9

Quit focusing on the negative things in your life, because that's what you will keep attracting ( Negative Things) Instead try and think of positive things in your life. People, places that you felt at peace.

Answer 10

The herb, ashwaghanda is extremely helpful in relieving stress and anxiety.

Answer 11

Handle things optimistically, live your life and don't care about what people say & do seek medical advise coz u must.... go to a cardiologist