Do you feel stressed?

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Stressed, certainly. But it's all job and family related, and just part of life. Things move fast sometimes.

I don't spend any time getting stressed about what cable news networks tell me to worry about.

You have a good point on cable news. I spend a good hunk of time every day at news in part for liking it and in part for work that requires it. Last winter when my travel was back at frequent I started catching TV again in hotel rooms or lounges. It was a reminder that even after it being so full of pundits and a lot being pretty much angertainment, reading black and white text or having it fed text to speech was less stressful.

There was just no doubt that the format could add to stress. The way I have to digest stuff for work is actually less stress - the multiple credible sources - because there's comfort in knowing what's really occurring.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by imwjl

You have a good point on cable news. I spend a good hunk of time every day at news in part for liking it and in part for work that requires it. Last winter when my travel was back at frequent I started catching TV again in hotel rooms or lounges. It was a reminder that even after it being so full of pundits and a lot being pretty much angertainment, reading black and white text or having it fed text to speech was less stressful.

There was just no doubt that the format could add to stress. The way I have to digest stuff for work is actually less stress - the multiple credible sources - because there's comfort in knowing what's really occurring.

It's really awful. Everything is a "SPECIAL ALERT," there's all this stuff streaming across the bottom of the screen, intentionally faster than most people can comfortably read...it's all designed to agitate. And it's all of those networks, whatever side they lean to.

[Rolph]

The person who says they have no stress misunderstands the word. Scientifically speaking, stressors are everywhere and constant. A positive stressor for example, you experience hunger, you feed yourself, stress relieved. America has never experienced these levels of stress, probably the world too.

For me personally, I think the over-utilization and addiction to cell phones represents one of the biggest forms of ongoing stress. Turn the thing off for awhile!

[Rolph]

I agree with Mr. Beaumont, the quick changing images on TV commercials and news are assaults on our brains/senses. I find I cannot watch many modern commercials and don't.

[Rockysdad]

Yes, yes I do. Started about late 2015 and has amplified since then.

I just can't comprehend how incredibly dense people are.

[zuzu]

The subtly of stress makes it sometimes difficult to perceive. I never knew I was stressed, and would have denied it if asked, until I sold my business. Only then did I realize how much more at ease I was, previously believing I was a laid back, no worries dude. The tell came from my dentist, who had accused me of grinding my teeth, which was ridiculous as I never noticed it. Half year after selling out, sitting in his chair, he said it looked like I had discontinued grinding my teeth. I denied ever noticing that I had ever done it and he said "ask your wife." Turns out I had long been grinding my teeth in my sleep...from stress. Be careful out there!

[raysachs]

I can't enter into this discussion to any depth without running afoul of forum rules. So I'll just say I'm blissfully low stress in my personal life and have been amazingly fortunate in said personal life. But the country and globe, IMHO, are going straight down the tubes and I worry and stress remarkably about that and how it's likely to affect my children and grandchildren. I worry about that every day. I play a lot of music and exercise and meditate to keep that under control and it's pretty effective, but doesn't change the underlying reality, which if that doesn't stress you out, you're not paying attention.

I'm doing as well as I could hope to in terms of managing stress...

-Ray

[imwjl]

Please all, look at the absolute facts to show you need not have some of these worries.

For the parent aspect, our kids and grandkids are in a time of tremendous opportunity if only from so many of us here at or near retirement. Job and education opportunities remain excellent for all sorts of workers and students.

This is a time when a lot of our kids and even ourselves can have workplace and schooling acceptance that just didn't exist in earlier times. There are even jobs and paths excellent for where some learning disabilities and conditions used to be trouble.

The rate at which some horrible health matters and problems are solved has accelerated. We've had a huge improvement with how much of the world has clean drinking water. The sharing in science and health brings solutions faster.

A lot of problems just need good old fashioned hard work but it is achievable and all stuff where we'll feel better doing it. We can solve or at lest work at the growth with obesity, cardio, diabetes and addiction problems. We feel better once we're at it or beat it.

You might feel helpless or scared about the whole world but can show up at your town hall or equivalent to work at or support something to make things better right outside your doorsteps.

Make your stresses, hurts and pains good ones.

[Steve-arino]

I'm 68, have been retired for about 8 years now. Not my choice, a few years earlier than I expected. Having said that, I'm happy, lucky and blessed. I'm not a religious guy - I'm certainly spiritual - and I do thank G-D (whatever that may be) every day for my life, my children, my amicable divorce 13 years ago, my health and my few good friends.

I've always felt stressed. My grandparents immigrated from Warsaw, Russia in the 30's. My grandfather made a fortune in the fur industry in NYC, then lost it all. My father owned a successful mirror factory in the Bronx, then there was a dock strike at the NYC ports (late 1960's), he couldn't get raw material and his factory went under. He had to get a job and was never the same. Died from associated effects of alcoholism at 80 years old. I've grown up with financial stress my entire life. I'm in good shape financially but I still stress about money.

My kids don't talk about changing the world, they are changing the world. My son is an economist at the US Treasury (will have his PhD from Yale in a couple of years), specializing in environmental economics, my daughter is a psychotherapist with her own practice. So no stress there. I'm blessed and lucky in this respect.

I started playing guitar at 60 yrs old. Been at it 8 years and get immense enjoyment. I play an hour or two or more every day and it's my favorite hobby. Not for stress relief but because I enjoy it (but they are connected).

I agree on the mainstream media news. Huge stressor. I keep it off.

When I catch myself ruminating I actively try to bring myself back to the moment. Ruminating is dangerous to my mental health.

I read a lot. I walk (and hike) a lot. Photography is another passion of mine. I'm getting back into traveling; trip to England planned in May '24; I like to have something to look forward to.

I need to work on my anger. "Anger is a poison, and holding my anger harms me, not the other." Yes! I lost a good friend because she felt I was not sensitive enough to her needs. She is right, from her point of view, but not from mine :-)!! I'm angry and I need to let it pass somehow.

Managing stress is an active pursuit.

[J Patrick]

I guess it’s pretty much impossible to live stress free but I do make an effort to limit my stress to the aspects of life that directly affect me. At this point in life, with a variety of personal and family health issues, it makes no sense to worry about outside problems that I either can’t or have no desire to deal with. I wish only the best for every living thing but I’m a short timer now and want to spend the rest of my days concentrating on loving my wife, children and a small group of friends. When I do occasionally feel overwhelmed by stress I medicate with moderate consumption of alcohol and cannabis. Seems to calm me down.

[AX17609]

I live pretty close to stress free. I spent a long time learning how to be retired. But after 14 years, I think I've finally figured it out.

[Jim Owen]

Hi Rich,
Yes. I still feel stress. I try to spend time out doors to stave off the stress. Walking my dog definitely helps.

Retirement removed a major stressor. And September is bringing cooler weather and that will help.

[Merak]

Stress seems to be part of this big adventure. I read some Alan Watts books several years ago along with Joseph Campbell’s books and that took care of about 90% of my stressors. Life is short, nothing is guaranteed, explore being alive while you are. Plenty of good books to help with the journey. Thanks for the thread, it’s nice to reflect on this.

[frankmcr]

Reading history is good.

Lots of things are better than they used to be.

Some are pretty much the same.

Very few are worse.

Marcus Aurelius is good too.

[eyesore]

I guess sometimes I stress .My wife is worse than me. We raised three kids ;I will always be concerned about. Meditataing? for get it ,it just does not work ,I have bokks and books about it but I can't do it. I still work but there is no strtess there . Playing guitar is my best thing I can do! Driving is horrible no matter where ya go. I do have a bad Italian temper at times ;Ii wish I could get rid of it altogether... if anyone has an answer for that...let me know . but I 'm happy.