Unwinding from Stress

Walking up a mountain (easy to find in Wicklow) followed by 3 beers usually does the trick, three strong beers is enough to relax you and give a slight buzz, if you went up fast enough but not enough to affect you seeing as you have kids in the house. If the injury curtails your ability to do that try working in the garden (if it's day time obviously) Gardening is a good work out too, but doesn't require movement that might aggravate the injury.
 
The wife reckons that for about 3 weeks before and during festival week I am a candidate for a heart attack or stroke.I get seriously worked up about it.
I haven't had a drink since January and the alternative is trying to walk or swim at least 5 days a week.I also try to always have something good to watch on sky plus.
 
LUKE said:
The wife reckons that for about 3 weeks before and during festival week I am a candidate for a heart attack or stroke.I get seriously worked up about it.
I haven't had a drink since January and the alternative is trying to walk or swim at least 5 days a week.I also try to always have something good to watch on sky plus.
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Not drinking always a positive and swimming is good for you as is going to the gym, very relaxing :)
 
How are the stress levels today Barry?

I am with you on waking up in the middle of the night after booze, and if you have worries, being awake, dehydrated and heart pounding at 4am is an awful place to be.
 
I had some tremendous times drinking even though I don't remember much about my first year in London but honestly if any of us were starting out again would we choose alcohol.Haven't touched a drop in 7 weeks despite fierce protest from my friends last week.
 
LUKE said:
I had some tremendous times drinking even though I don't remember much about my first year in London but honestly if any of us were starting out again would we choose alcohol.Haven't touched a drop in 7 weeks despite fierce protest from my friends last week.
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Yes, Love booze, but Iwould like to know when I've had enough.
Smoking on the other hand is a curse, although one on the rare occassion is nice.
 
I would add that a skinful is a rare occurence these days but I can understand people getting sick of the few pints every other night.
 
Much better today thanks, Hamm.

Shadow was right about perspective and (before seeing Tout Seul's post) I went in to my sons' rooms to give both of them a kiss while they slept. I then watched some replays of Istabraq, Florida Pearl and Hors La Loi's Supreme to cheer me up some more.

I was an awful man for the drink and the drugs when I was a younger lad. I still enjoy a bottle of fancy beer, but my main problem is once I meet up with my mates for weddings, stags or days watching sport in the pub. I put away way too much booze and suffer for days afterwards.
 
I'll admit I had a bottle of wine last night - bad day! The further down the bottle you get the less important the woes seem!

Obviously it's not the easiest to achieve unless you have access to horses but I can waste hours sitting or lying in a paddock or standing outside a stable door watching my horses and have them come up and nuzzle me, especially in the sun. Two of them have a thing about skin and in weather like this with t-shirts and little tops on they love snuffling around on my shoulder, neck, or small of my back. Luckily I know they won't bite me! It's very relaxing and de-stressing.
 
Bar the Bull said:
You're right Shadow. It could be worse. Most things are going well for me. That helped.

Thanks. Incidentally, I looked up Istabraq's three champion hurdle wins on youtube which helped, too. Your namesake was a great traveller.
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Glad it did help - I find that after the initial blow-out of rage, stress, whatever, you realise there are some things you just can't do anything about and life could be far worse.

As for Shadow, he was a lovely horse, and electric over his hurdles. I remember the first time he schooled over hurdles at home, I was in the schooling paddock with the head lad, travelling head lad and second head lad. All were raving how exciting he was and how stunning he was over the flights. He had the most fantastic temperament as well.
 
I can certainly identify with the 2/3 day blues post a good few drinks. If out all day Saturday, I am very jumpy on a Sunday (literally, it is awful), Monday still unsure of myself and don't feel right at all, and it's Tuesday before I'm beginning to want to do anything but go to and from work. Not good.

Stress levels almost going up in me today. Women.
 
The best thing that has helped me recently is Tai Chi.

Over the past 4+ years I have had to deal with stress levels that have been at times totally unbearable: from my mum being diagnosed with 5 separate cancers within 3 years - then ultimately passing away from the bloody disease in 2009; going through unemployment etc and changing jobs; Dad getting very ill after Mum's passing and being in hospital for a period.

So yes, admittedly it has not been a great past 4 years, and to top it off I was diagnosed these past 4 months with a degenerative back condition that has caused me nothing but intense pain and grief.

As I was at my whits ends with the condition, I was looking for alternative answers. I cannot do anything too physical or that will heavily impact because it will make it worse and leave me in more pain (I learnt the hard way unfortunately a month ago with that idea!). So I looked into eastern methods, and discovered that tai chi would probably best fit.

All I can is I have never felt better physically or mentally. When I showed up, I was in pain that was intolerable, after getting myself to relax and into a posteral position (which is what tai chi tries to focus also on) I was able to do the exercises / form with the class. The next day I woke up for the first time with no pain. It'd be a lie to say I do not get any pain anymore, because I still do, but I now have the tools to be able to help bear with it.

The thing though, is Tai Chi is not for everyone, and what is best for me, may not suit anyone else.
 
Part of a mixed group that meets weekly for 2 hours in an old school hall.

Then after I practise the form and techniques on my own at home.
 
We had a little group meeting at our retirement flats, GA, and I found how difficult it was to actually relax the physical body, yet remain upright! You really don't realise how much you stand with muscles tightly bunched until you're asked to 'sink through the floor' with knees slightly bent and NOT keep your gluteals tight! I liked 'wave hands like clouds' although frequently mucked it up - more like 'wave hands like threshing machine', but still enjoyed it, and the gentle focus outside the self.

I also have a friend in her 60s who's been doing Yoga for a year and has so trimmed her body and increased her balance. It hasn't, unfortunately, done much for her negative outlook on life, which is a shame. (And a great bore a lot of the time, too.)
 
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Friend of mine runs a Tai Chi class in the next village; I've meant to go along for ages but never got round to it. Might give it a go next week. The people in the group are very supportive of each other, I understand. My Paul McKenna stop smoking cd is very relaxing; although I gave up smoking a few years ago it's still the best of the Paul McKenna cd's that I've got. Didn't stop me smoking, though. I used to put it on when I got back from work; sleep for an hour afterwards and then have a fag.
 
I've recently started doing an art class as I'd always enjoyed doing art at school but it had to make way for sciences & latin in my timetable much to my disgust. The first lesson I had, I was petrified but as the weeks have gone on, I have really started to enjoy it and its great relaxation. The lady who teaches is is very relaxed and informal and basically lets you work in whatever medium you want as well as choosing the subject rather than all having to do the same things. As a result, you gain in confidence - the 2 hours fly by and I am always sorry I have a week till the next one.

Next week we have a life model - a very brave lady who is happy to pose in the buff for us! I have never drawn nudes before so it will be quite a challenge - I have dug out a William Russell Flint book to practice first so I'm not hopeless!
 
I don't drink or smoke but do have a seemingly inexaustable inner monologue that I try to use to control the rage that burns constantly inside. Other than that, loud music through headphones will do it - inner ear headphones to stop the other commuters frowning...
 
krizon said:
We had a little group meeting at our retirement flats, GA, and I found how difficult it was to actually relax the physical body, yet remain upright! You really don't realise how much you stand with muscles tightly bunched until you're asked to 'sink through the floor' with knees slightly bent and NOT keep your gluteals tight! I liked 'wave hands like clouds' although frequently mucked it up - more like 'wave hands like threshing machine', but still enjoyed it, and the gentle focus outside the self.
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Yes it is difficult! The thing I find hardest above all is I try too hard to get all the physical elements right mentally, so am overthinking about everything! But when I don't think, and switch off, it all just comes naturally!

Moe, the group I am with are also extremely supportive of each other. I was asked by the others, especially being quite young compared to the rest of the group, why. When I told them why I was coming, they were extremely compassionate and have asked each week how everything is going. We also discuss amongst ourselves what we want to get out of each week, and to do.
 
SteveT - having met you several times, I'm glad there was a counter between us if you burn with constant rage. Boy, can appearances be deceptive! :blink: I'll ensure the gatemen give you a pat-down next time...
 
Hamm said:
I can certainly identify with the 2/3 day blues post a good few drinks. If out all day Saturday, I am very jumpy on a Sunday (literally, it is awful), Monday still unsure of myself and don't feel right at all, and it's Tuesday before I'm beginning to want to do anything but go to and from work. Not good.
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I go on about 6 -7 big piss ups a year and go to Galway for one big week of drink. Like most men over thirty I enjoy every minute having the craic but the next two days are a complete write off! The black dogs and monkeys come to get me the second night - the sweats - the guilts!! Its brutal and getting to the stage where I'm not sure if its worth it!
 
On The Bridle said:
I go on about 6 -7 big piss ups a year and go to Galway for one big week of drink. Like most men over thirty I enjoy every minute having the craic but the next two days are a complete write off! The black dogs and monkeys come to get me the second night - the sweats - the guilts!! Its brutal and getting to the stage where I'm not sure if its worth it!
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I hear ye but as a good horse said (after neigh)

Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
 
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