Stress and the Guitar...

[EZK123]

Guitar is how I de-stress.

Lounging with a guitar and an adult beverage is the way I decompress after work . . . hell, sometimes it's how I decompress during work .

[Dru Edwards]

When I'm stressed I try to exercise but I'll also play and sing on the guitar. I wouldn't call it practicing though, just playing.

When I'm depressed I play as well.

[crwheat@sbcglob]

I've always found playing an acoustic guitar to be therapeutic during times of stress. This year has been particularly hard. My guitars have provided solace.

[zombywoof]

For me the guitar has always made the bad times not near as bad. Folks tell me though that when I am out of sorts it is reflected in my playing. I get far more aggressive in my attack like I am taking it out on the guitar.

[Jambi]

I'm an I.T. guy with depression. Acoustic guitar playing is my therapy, it's the most non-computer related thing I do.

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

When I'm stressed I try to exercise but I'll also play and sing on the guitar. I wouldn't call it practicing though, just playing.



When I'm depressed I play as well.

Forgot about good ol exercise. I train jiu jitsu and sometimes I lift weights. There’s something about stepping on the mats that makes everything outside irrelevant. My worries disappear in those two or so hours. After training I decompress with my guitar and it’s very zen-like experience.

[Paraclete]

When I’m really stressed, I tend to pull out my classical guitar and an exercise book and start drilling my way through etudes and preludes and studies. The precision is calming and requires total focus...no room for stress.

[polarred21]

Tough month for me as well. I reach for the guitar as a stress reliever every chance I get.

[j3ffr0]

Playing the guitar always makes it better. But sometimes if I’m stressed I don’t feel like picking it up in the fist place... but if I do, it helps

[jazzguy]

I'm the opposite. Noodling on my guitar reduces the stress. Like others have said. Pick a new - and easy - song to learn. That way it's fun, not stressful, and you get immediate gratification. Run to the guitar..not from it. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable Christmas and Holiday season!

[Parlorman]

Playing music is a huge stress reliever for me. Learning something new changes my focus away from whatever is stressing me out and playing something I know well is like meditation.

Like Shawn Colvin said, “But if there were no music, then I would not get through”.

[GlenGurian]

Great thread. Nice to feel like I'm not the only who needs a guitar within reach for all the right reasons.

[ChrisE]

When I get depressed or stressed, I like to think that playing guitar helps me to relax.

The problem is that my wife doesn't agree and starts in with the "all you do is play that stupid guitar" routine which makes me depressed and stressed which makes me want to play guitar which makes my wife....well, you get the idea.

[Edgar Poe]

Stress or tension usually makes me rush things.
I try to play, but my mind will wander.
ChrisE, I'm single, but that situation would depress the heck out of me, knowing someone did not support my playing. I hope that changes as you progress.

Ed

[muscmp]

a guitar is therapy! a real stress stopper!

play music!