BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Stress Management Quick fixes to lower stress

This is a great conversation with a lot of great tips. I had no idea how many women experienced extreme stress and anxiety until I started to experience it last year. As I started to talk about my issues, I learned that many of my girlfriends were also struggling with it. I would have horrible anxiety attacks (which I no longer have)that manifested into claustrophobia (which I still struggle with a bit). I thought I was going crazy. I am not a stressed or anxious person by nature and I didn't understand why I was reacting to all of my responsibilities in this way. I think a lot of it was based on control or lack there of.
A lot of the suggestions here are very good, in fact I tried many of them in the past. I found that the first step was becoming more self aware and realizing that I couldn't be super woman and didn't always have to be perfect. Then I made some changes in my lifestyle, started yoga, and trained myself to refocus when I started to get stressed/anxious.

Yoga is good for this.

I am verrrrrrrrry stressed right now. I did a lot of things today that i needed to do but that i know stress me out. I am taking a caculated risk right now on my new house mate, trying to get my life to move forward... but i am worrying about it. I'm at my max of what i can handle and i'm trying to calm down but i am not calm and it makes me feel a little ill.

Are you worried that she may not pay?

Perhaps some. But mostly it's just getting used to living with a new person i don't know well. She's a bit intense and loves to talk to me, but sometimes it's just too heavy of conversation for late at night... like about her ex who was murdered or her friend who committed suicide or all sorts of other intense stuff. I've been communicating when i need to sleep or relax or work and she's maybe starting to get the picture and i'm sure it will get better as we know each other but at the moment... too many little dramas... her car breaking down, some problems with her daughter when she was visiting, etc. She got drink one night... i don't think it's going to be a habit but it's just been more than i'm used to.

She has come with huge emotional baggage. That is adding to your problems.

Holly, I am getting worried. You do not need a house mate with such problems. You have enough of your own.

We will see how things turn out. I knew this would be a risk, it always is with any house mate, and i am sensitive, so this is part of it. But she also has many exceptional qualities and i believe she is motivated to working hard and being responsible and a good house mate. It's usually a little rough in the beginning with all housemates. It takes time to know what to expect from each other and get used to each other's quirks. It's a little like being married but with no engagement to get used to each other, haha.

I asked her today again about jobs to make sure she is progressing on her own needs, and she has been doing more than i was aware. She has also been told by my friend Mark that her work for him will begin the first week in October... i hope this is correct. Tomorrow she agreed to clear her things off of the porch and to help me put some shelves into her closet.

I considered all of the aspects in the beginning before making my decision. At present i'm doing my best to stay on top of things... in particular, communication and setting limits. It's just too early to tell.

Good luck Holly.

thank you.