Do you feel stressed?

[buddyhu]

Earlier today, I came across an article that reviewed the several stressful events we have all faced on the past couple of decades: the “Great Recession”, the pandemic, increased “natural disasters”, worldwide migrant issues, worldwide inflation, increased risk of nuclear war or WWIII, increased mental health challenges amongst friends and family (from a variety of directions, particularly including increased prevalence of addiction issues) increased polarization and acrimony in political spheres…and I imagine there will be more stressors identified in later posts to the thread (unless someone decides to torpedo this thread with the usual controversial inputs).

So, do YOU feel stressed? And what are the most effective ways you have discovered for managing stress?

I can definitely say that I feel more stressed now than I did 20 or 30 or 40 years ago…which surprises me, because those years weren’t exactly easy for me.

I manage my stress by spending time with friends (jamming, hiking, sharing meals), and by meditating, and being grateful for my wife, my dog, my friends, my health. There is much for which I can be grateful; the challenge is to take the time to reflect on these many blessings rather than getting caught up in other, less uplifting, features of my life.

I also do my best to work through/let go of anger, resentments, etc. Learning how to forgive people (including those who do not deserve forgiveness: I pursue forgiveness for my wellbeing, not to have an effect on those who have transgressed). Anger is a poison, and holding my anger harms me, not the other.

So, what about you?


Stressed? Stressed and also blessed. Or blessed and not stressed?

And whatever level of stress you experience, what are the best ways you have found to manage your stress.

[Rolph]

I feel stressed from a few different directions. I had been working for about 62 years, and decided to retire when the Pandemic broke out. As a physician, providing manual medicine, I became paranoid of being in close proximity to 10-15 patients for extended periods of time, 5 days a week, so I just stopped being a doctor. That's the first stress. Feeling kind of disconnected w/o a regular job.
Also, I've had chronic lung issues my entire life and got scared to death when I saw many videos of people on respirators, and upset/stressed out medical staff.

I got a high maintenance dog/ female Irish Setter, now 2 y/o......That relieved a lot of stress
I changed my diet, since I now had more time to cook, and in the process of trying to rebuild a digestive system that has suffered from allergies, sensitivities, and inflammation for life.
I try to practice golf everyday, or play. The joint mobility, walking, and success gives me a great deal of satisfaction.
And, I try to play guitar every day, which I was never really able to do, except for when I was in different bands before med school. Since I retired, my guitar has vastly improved. I firmly believe in the 1,000,000 hour rule.
I'm pretty surprised what our media has become, so I avoid the news as much as possible. I sometimes feel a little guilty that I retired, and I find that odd.

[JackC1]

I went thru a super stressful event eaylr in my life (mid-20s) that nothing else even comes close so I've never felt stressed since. The event also taught me how to manage stress.

The biggest help was sharing my stressful situation with my friends. I also talked to family and therapists; but I didn't find them as helpful as talking to friends.

Since that event, I recognized a few things that aren't worth stressing over:

1. physical appearance,
2. money/possessions,
3. uncommitted relationships,
4. things I can't control,
5. things I should let go of,
6. be thankful for everything.

I'm in my early 50's; retired for 8 years. Never stressed over anything for almost 30 years. I feel I've lived a pretty lucky life except the couple years in my mid-20s.

[fitness1]

Unfortunately for the last few years I've felt stress nearly constantly - I went through a series of life events that were very hard to recover completely from.

I've always used intense exercise and music for relief, but they are not working like they used to.

I believe at the root of my situation is a lack of hope that things will truly ever get better in the world.

I've always been a big picture person, and that isn't so pretty anymore. I find myself doing less and less all the time in regard to social events (although my work is quite social, and daily golf with my friends helps during the season).

My interest in travel has waned as well - some days I can barely stand driving in my town of 40k - a typical route to or from work yields about 3 near accidents if I'm not paying attention. Aggressive and distracted drivers are getting worse and worse - and I can't think of a single reason I'd ever set foot on a plane again.

I'm retiring in February and really looking forward to having more time for whatever it is I choose....and the time to figure out what it is I truly want the next 10-20 years to look like. I really don't have any financial worries, so that helps a bit - but that only takes you so far.

[dwalton]

No - I don’t feel stressed at all. Not worth it.

[RP]

My stress level has become non-existent since retiring in 2010 and began swimming 5-7 days/week...

[rllink]

I'm not particularly stressed. I'm old, retired, financially okay and I'm in fairly good health. I don't let things or events that I have no control over occupy my mind. I'm not very political. Interestingly, I found that playing guitar is one way I deal with what little stress I have in life. It takes my mind off of things for a time and when I'm done I've usually moved on from whatever it was that stressed me. I say interestingly because I know people who are really stressed out all the time over their guitar playing.

[TBman]

I play my guitar to manage stress. I'm going to go to full retirement later this year so my stress levels should drop out of sight then

[6L6]

Happy to say I have no stress issues to deal with at 77yrs of age.

[Murphy Slaw]

I'm stressed for my children and grandchildren. This is suddenly a different world, and I'm not overly impressed with the evolution.

The wife mentioned yesterday, as we were running some errands, to notice the way people were dressed, their body shapes, and the overall slobby demeaner of the majority of the population. We watch a lot of old movies, and people were classier in the 40's and 50's. They spoke better, dressed better and had far more class.

It doesn't matter how you envision your finances if the debt and inflation are going to wipe it out, and the supply chain completely breaks down. The balance is out of whack and yes, I'm a bit concerned.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by Murphy Slaw

I'm stressed for my children and grandchildren. This is suddenly a different world, and I'm not overly impressed with the evolution.

The wife mentioned yesterday, as we were running some errands, to notice the way people were dressed, their body shapes, and the overall slobby demeaner of the majority of the population. We watch a lot of old movies, and people were classier in the 40's and 50's. They spoke better, dressed better and had far more class.

It doesn't matter how you envision your finances if the debt and inflation are going to wipe it out, and the supply chain completely breaks down. The balance is out of whack and yes, I'm a bit concerned.

I hear ya Murph,everything seems out of whack.Every day I hear of something going on,or policy or trend, that even after trying to understand how or why its even being considered just doesn't make sense?Maybe it's just me dunno? like I said hello to a guy the other day,hes staring at his phone and he seemed shocked and afraid? I invaded his dream world I guess? of course he said nothing.

[imwjl]

Sure I can feel stressed mostly from work responsibilities but I manage it with physical activities and knowing how fear can make our species do stupid things. Activities with some drop in and hang time or hesitation buys you nothing aspects really help manage it. I do stuff like walk/hike/run a neighborhood trail to focus the mind, skiing, and mountain biking - safe ways to move in and out of comfort zones.

Resuming biathlon has come to mind for the near future but some injury late last season might be an issue. Biathlon is a great way for proper mindset with guns.

I'm very thankful for a lot of time and dialog with some seniors either side of age 90 for element stressed here. They lived the times many think were so much better and they were not.

As a parent there are always worries even though our kids are almost 20 and in their 20s. This is a fantastic time for "kids" that age and it helps me cut stress. The retiring boomers and pathetic shape of many getting close to retirement gives them tremendous opportunity. They have lots of job opportunity whether they are in a trade/technician path or a professional/STEM/business college path.

One worry where I don't have good answers is more rural. We live between homes that typify the extremes in the US now. The troubled place is a lot like the small town I mostly grew up in. It seems both of them lost the spirit I grew up in to want to do better. The 1950s are not going to return and those seniors I spend time with remind how those times were not so great as is imagined now.

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by buddyhu

So, do YOU feel stressed? And what are the most effective ways you have discovered for managing stress?

So, what about you?

Stressed and also blessed.

Yes, I do. I understand that stress is the engine that propels the people in the world. My biggest issue is that I can't live in denial. And that is the key to being stress free.

How do I deal with it? Everything that's already been stated. Does it work? Sometimes.

Your troubles will cease when you are dead and gone. As long as you have problems, you're not dead.

[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.

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

Yes, I do. I understand that stress is the engine that propels the people in the world. My biggest issue is that I can't live in denial. And that is the key to being stress free.

How do I deal with it? Everything that's already been stated. Does it work? Sometimes.

Your troubles will cease when you are dead and gone. As long as you have problems, you're not dead.

This is great. I’ve been trying to live in denial but people keep rudely dragging me back to reality.