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09 May 2012, 6:06 pm

Essentially stress is building, like adrenaline increasing etc. its now really interfering with things, I can feel I'm really tired however I also have energy from the adrenaline which is messing with my ability to relax and sleep etc. I need help to calm everything down. I dont know how. I dont even know what the trigger was or is. Usually I just let myself burn out and crash, but I crash badly and really cant cope with a big crash at the moment. Need to stop this but dont know how. Any help would be good.


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Callista
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09 May 2012, 6:11 pm

I hate it when that happens. Pressure helps me--lying on the floor, wrapped in a blanket, or some such. Having all of your body supported can help, like lying on the floor or on a bed versus having your legs dangling off a chair.

Reduce sensory input. Get a drink of water if you're thirsty. Darken lights, reduce noise. Put a blanket over your head if you have to. Just wait it out. That tense feeling is awful and annoying, but it won't last forever.

If you have a pet and interacting with the animal calms you, try that. Or try engaging in some simple activities that you enjoy--ones that are not stressful--like for me that might be doing crochet or turning a shiny rock over in my hand, or reading a well-loved favorite book.

Been there, done that, hated it. Hope it ends soon for you.


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MeshugenahMama
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09 May 2012, 6:28 pm

I find the old classic-a long hot bath-to be very helpful when I am stressed.



zombiegirl2010
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09 May 2012, 8:21 pm

Now, I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with stress myself...but a few things that sometimes help me if the stress isnt very bad yet: drinking coffee, hot shower, watching a favorite TV show, or of course...stimming. A very odd stim that I have just realized that it is in fact a stim is my obsession with always having something to drink at hand. Always! If I'm awake...I have a glass of something handy. If I don't for some reason, I'm thinking about how soon I can get one...and if it is too long, I get very irritable. It's odd. :lol:


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kritie
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09 May 2012, 8:29 pm

Bouncing on an exercise ball works best for me.



CuriousKitten
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09 May 2012, 9:23 pm

things I've found helpful:

hot Epson salts bath -- a hot bath is relaxing by itself, even without the Epson salts. but Epson Salts are a good source of magnesium which most folk are deficient on. My pet theory on why floating in a float tank is supposedly so relaxing it the water is loaded with Epson salts. If you are deficient and spend an hour a week for several weeks soaking in that solution, you will indeed feel much better.

Meditation -- I favor a basic follow the breath, but anything that gets you in the moment and gets your mind off the source(s) of stress will only help. I have been known to combine this with the Epson salts bath, or with a shower to "wash the day/week/etc off" -- just standing in the spray counting deep breaths. If your mind wanders, don't assume the meditation isn't working. Just label it "thinking" and go back to the meditation. Another strategy is to just observe the thoughts and watch them drift away.

Music -- I routinely use music designed to stimulate delta waves to sleep, and beta or above to stay awake. for simple relaxation go for alpha. Theta is good for meditation.

Valerian root is helps calm. I take a bunch of it every night, but sometimes take extra when stressed.

I'm still exploring stimming -- I've always been into rocking chairs, swings, and bouncing my leg, even though I never before made the connection between the activity and my stress level, but I'm rediscovering spinning. It seems to calm me better than just about anything.



ediself
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10 May 2012, 2:39 am

There's a switch inside your brain . You can actually switch this off. I'm not certain anyone can actually discover this switch before reaching their snapping point though ...
I only found it by accident . It does imply a loss of sensitivity all around , especially in the "feelings " category though but I personally believe it's worth it.
Look for the switch , it's located in the "screw this , I'm not caring anymore " state of mind.



KittyCommand0r
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10 May 2012, 3:11 am

Try covering yourself with a blanket and put a pillow over your head so you can't see anything and just try and relax. Maybe even grab headphones or something if there are noises going on around you. Works for me all the time.



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10 May 2012, 4:23 am

Thanks heaps guys. Followed Callista's suggestion and curled up in a dark room for 5 hours which dealt with the worst of it. Still need to deal with the lingering (but much, much lower level) of stress and tiredness. I'll look into the other suggestions later, dont have the energy for them now. I need to get better at managing these, whatever they are called, this one is bad.
Thanks again for the replies, I really appreciate the suggestions.


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