what are the best ways you cope with stress?
do you prefer vigorous or more gentle, restorative exercise? what about meditation?
Sometimes going for a run helps. I'm not a huge runner, but have learned that if I'm really stewing over something and going in circles in my head, that it's in my best interest to force myself out to do something active, if at the very least to get myself temporarily distracted from thinking anymore about it. Hiking - anything outdoors - is a total win, even if it's a short-term solution.
But if I'm unable to force myself to do that, then I'll go the opposite route and start feeling physically ill, lay on the couch with a heated pillow around my neck, and just be consumed with thoughts/feelings.
do you rely too much on creature comforts, get slothy, and overeat when you are overstressed?
I think I've always been too disciplined/self-monitoring to allow myself to go the route of overindulgence (eating, spending, drinking, etc.. if anything I *don't* allow myself to do any of that because I know it will just be a product of the stress). But like I said above, I might just lie down on the couch feeling ill, and watch a movie or tv or something. So I suppose for myself I'd go more the sloth/ hibernation/withdrawal route. It's been less of an issue when, in the past, I've been living with someone rather than living alone. Living alone = more prone to isolate myself. Living with someone else = can be pulled out to do stuff and relieve the inner stress.
do you communicate with others about your anxieties and feelings or is that unhelpful?
When really stressed/upset I tend not to want to talk to anyone, and tied to that, when stressed, I tend to find people highly irritating. My natural instinct is total withdrawal, and then becoming consumed inwardly with negative thoughts/feelings, which is why like I said above it was problematic in the past when I lived alone and hadn't yet learned how to cope well with stress. In recent years though I have tried to become more open and talk through some of my feelings with certain people - a good release valve. I've learned over time that it's probably the healthier, better route than withdrawal, and that it can in fact reduce the stress I'm feeling. If I can release it out, it's no longer totally trapped within me and it's like I release a bit of a burden.
how do you slow down negative thoughts?
It has been a work in progress. It does help if I get out of my head and actually interact with people and release some of it. Either through activity/exercise or sharing a bit. With the theme of this thread, basically throwing out the 'sp' primary, I think. That's the solution.
how do you motivate yourself if you working on/in a consistently demoralizing project/work environment?
Not sure how to answer this. If it is a consistently demoralizing work environment, I need to find a way to extricate myself from it - because it's not the place for me if it's going to continue to be like that for the long run. If I know it's not the place for me, then it'll be hard to motivate myself while there, in the short run before I've figured out something else to do. My primary objective will be to try to find a way out -- another work environment/job. If it's just a demoralizing project, I suppose I try to look at the big picture and try to inject some humor in the situation. i.e. there will be an end to it, so might as well just rejoice in the stupidity of it and whatever group dynamics are a part of it. I dunno.
how do you respond to situations in which your self-image/esteem are threatened or in jeopardy of being threatened?
Probably withdrawal. Not wanting to interact anymore.
or super competitive, stressful situations?
Hmm.. I tend to be calm outwardly in stressful situations, even if I'm frazzled inwardly. Try to be sensible and rational, remove the emotional context.
Super competitive situations? Probably withdraw - don't want to play the game. Let someone else play it, as it's not worth my effort and I typically don't care. I do my part, and I do it to the best of my ability, and I'm all about teamwork and being diplomatic, but when it comes to pushing myself forward or asserting myself over others, I usually could care less. I'm not out to prove myself to anyone. If I need to 'prove' myself in some way, I don't think I'm doing things right -- i.e. my day to day actions/work should speak for itself and I don't need to try to display my wares over those of someone else. And, I tend not to value the opinion of those who I'd have to 'compete' against anyway, or those who would tend to be the ones who need to see that sort of demonstration of competition for their assessment of you to be more favorable.
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Although none of this is to say that any of the above is a 'healthy' stress response. lol.
