How does your stress manifest itself?

[April]

Just being nosy today.

Mine comes out in frequent headaches. The worse the stress gets, the more painful the headaches are. For the all-encompassing tension, stress, resentment and whatnot, I get a sore neck, which I have right now. They usually last for the better part of a week. At which point, I get headaches due to the stress of not being able to turn my head! Vicious cycle.

So what's your trigger? Your symptoms? I'm sure I'm not the only one to get sore necks.

 

[juicylips]

Can you say BITCH?

Because that is definitely what I am when I am stressed

Most of the time I am putty in someone's hands, but if I get flustered or stressed to the max... Watch out!!

Cassidy,
relaxed and very unstressed at the moment

 

[MissTaken]

Recipe for Stress

1 part screaming kids
2 parts constant phone calls
1 part inadequacy among employees and co workers
3 parts financial difficulties

Mix thoroughly. Bake at 350 for one hour. Let stand one minute. Rub temples and cry while serving.

To enhance the recipe:

2 parts holiday shopping
1 part clinically depressed mother
3 parts neglectful boyfriend ( a rarity these days! )


Recipe failed if :
I can sleep at night.
Am eating properly.
And don't need motrin twice per day.

 

[miles]

MMy neck gets sore and stiff and it radiates into my shoulders.

I know one person whose eye starts twitching and gets worse when she's horny.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[erosman]

stress manifest

I agree with the headaches and the stiffness in my neck. A masseuse that I resort to occasionally, works the muscles that lie just under the scapula (shoulder blade). She claims that the muscles there are directly affected by emotions. Basically she says that my unreleased emotions are stored in those muscles. The ensuing tightness travels upward toward the neck muscles and eventually peak out in headaches. I was skeptical at first, but have found that I can actually feel the tightness in those muscles now. If I can't get to her, the corner of a wall will sometimes help- I stand like I'm rubbing my back on the corner, only I try get the sharp edge between the scapula and the backbone. I just stand with as much pressure as I can stand for a few minutes at a time. as a side note, I think a bottle of wine does about the same.

 

[Guest]

erosman replied:

If I can't get to her, the corner of a wall will sometimes help- I stand like I'm rubbing my back on the corner, only I try get the sharp edge between the scapula and the backbone. I just stand with as much pressure as I can stand for a few minutes at a time. as a side note, I think a bottle of wine does about the same.

I've heard the wall being used for lots of things....I'll add this one to the list. lol (Sorry, couldn't resist, erosman)


It's the same for me, too....headaches, neck stiffness, and sore muscles from tightening my body due to holding in the stress. The other way my stress is shown is in my eyes. I'm sure it's that way for all of you, too. My eyes tend to take on a look of anger or something along those lines. I tend to smile quite a bit and people notice right away when something is wrong as my lips are in a tightened position, also.

I think I'll look into a message to help ease those pressures and strains away. It does sound so very relaxing.

Have a good day, everyone.

 

[TN_Vixen]

LOL

MMy neck gets sore and stiff and it radiates into my shoulders.

I know one person whose eye starts twitching and gets worse when she's horny.

you're incorrigible.

 

[Elizabeth]

Combine kids, work, husband, upkeep of the house... I get headaches. I try to go as easy as I can with meds but somedays I have to take them. I try to just get away from whatever is stressing me (i.e drive by myself, a movie alone, ect) and that really does help. I have been considering yoga (dr.suggested it) but I'm not sure if I will like that.

 

[ReallyOldLady]

Unfortunately, I am a stress eater. Or I get depressed. A battle I have been fighting lately in some of the hardest battles in years. The thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that it will pass-the stressors and the depression. (An indication of my maturity, I like to think.)

Any suggestions on how to deal with the bitches in the front office at work? Besides quitting? They are the gossipy types that make life hell for everyone who is not part of their clique. (Over half the staff has turned over this year. Only 3 people besides myself have been there over a year outside of those horrid bitches.)

Tiem to destress. I am steaming some Texmati rice and the house has that wonderful smell. Yummy!

 

[April]

I get the twitching eyes too. Or sometimes a twitching lip. Eeep! Quite embarrassing when you're with a customer, and they think you are sneering at them!

I don't have any way to destress except to vent at hubby, who is quite understanding. Bless his heart. No, seriously. Alcohol helps a lot too, but I ran out of Coke, and I can't drink it straight. I would almost kill for a massage.

 

[Xander]

Stress...

I goto work, and work until I can hardly stand.......then passes out.
repeat itr when I wake up again....until I dont feel stressed no more.

And I feel stressed these days.....ah well....maybe I'll find someone to cuddle with later on...who knows.

 

[Rubyfruit]

I get the eye twitching, which is really fucking annoying.

The last job I had was very stressful. Working for lawyers. Need I say more? Plus, the office manager was a complete psychopathic bitch. In the last months before I quit, my right eye was twitching constantly.

Now, I only get it on particularly difficult days with the kids. Like yesterday when one of the destructive duo popped half the keys off the laptop.

Ruby

 

[teresafannin]

Major headaches, right behind my eyes & not able to sleep. Usually a good long cry helps relieve the stress. If that doesn't work, I go out and take a long walk.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

my stress is usually caused by my classes.. and it doesnt usually get to me all that much, but sometimes its really really bad.

i usually get really moody and bitchy, and then i get a headache.. a massive one, that makes my the back of my neck stiff and hurts so much that i cant do anything except take some pain pills of some form and lay down for awhile.. i also get extremely whiney and extremely honest with people. i can usually hold back insults and all (i do play by the rule if you cant say something nice dont say anything at all, except when i'm really stressed) but once that headache sets in, there is no hope for anyone that pisses me off. you could say i rip a new asshole from as mean as i can be (this is also the time i usually deal with creditors and such)

a lot of times to help reduce stress, i've found a night of sex or cuddling with my man.. or going running helps a lot. and sometimes its just to take a long hot shower and then crawl into bed in just a towel.

 

[Debbie]

When stressed my body is tense. I get a niggling headache and a slight feeling of irritability.

I use aromatherapy. (oil burner usually) I was given this great book for my birthday which has aromatherapy recipes and tips for all sorts of things. From sensual oils, skin tonics, period pain relievers, migraine easers, PMS tension soothers etc through to sleep enhancers.
(PM me if you want any more tips. The name of the book is Instant Aromatherapy for stress relief by Mark Evans)

Lavender oil is one of the best things I have used for stress. I run a bath and inhale the fragrance and eventually I relax. I also burn the oil next to me on the computer if needed.

Otherwise if I am stressed to the point of becoming angry I turn on my favourite tape and dance dance dance the stress away.

If you have a partner then learning aromatherapy massage is a loving way to help ease each others stress. You can find books in the library if you can't afford too buy them.

Self hypnosis and meditation can help also.

 

[lavender]

 

[morninggirl5]

General stress results in my hair looking like I've walked through a hurricane, I twist, pull, and scrape my fingers through it continuously. I also bite my nails.

One step up and I'm irritable, bitchy, and super-emotional. Look at me cross-eyed and I cry. A full day of that and I'll have a killer tension headache.

My favorite solution is a long hot shower, a book from the "keeper" box(es), my favorite candle, and complete silence.

If I can't manage that, a long drive with the windows down, the music blaring and an ice cold drink does wonders.

 

[flawed_ethics]

I'm pretty mellow, I like to think - so stressing out isn't common to me. But when I do get stressed out, like at work, it can manifest itself in one of two ways. Like today: I got irritable, angry, and started raising my voice. Kinda caught my co-workers off guard today doing that - I'm usually relaxed and pretty laid back no matter how chaotic it may seem to be getting.

Or, if I'm moving around and have various things I should be doing, I get hyper, making sure my frustrated energy is channeled into keeping my body in motion. Not that I'm non-irritable and that other stuff, but in constant motion, it's not such a big deal. I'm earning a reputation for it at work actually - there are some people who fear working with me on our busy days.

Ahh, life.

 

[cuz cracker]

well,cuz

She gets home about 3:30pm!

 

[seXieleXie]

i get headaches that will turn into migraines
jaw clenching, sore neck/shoulders, twitching eyes
i also stop sleeping that has been my trouble lately... it's killing me. i need this week to be over so i can down some nyquil and sleep until monday

 

[Demian]

Goosebump

You need to unwind

 

[seXieleXie]

i gave a massage to this girl i like who lives down the hall... i'm so wound up i could pop.

does anyone else find that giving someone else a massage heightens your own awareness of your stiff neck and back? oh well... it was worth it to get my hands on her

 

[freakygirl]

I get a tummy ache

a horrible.. stabbing pain and vomiting.

When I was in school (this problem started in the 4th grade, due to a really really bad teacher) I would get so sick Sunday nights. I was taken to the hospital many times. They would run tests and find nothing wrong with me. As I got older I started putting the stomach aches and what was going on together. Figured out it was stress. I have learned to control it, it's not easy (especially with the problems that i have had lately with my mother) but i'm working on not allowing her to bother me as much.