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Tips on reducing stress level? This is long, sorry.
I'm 21/f. I live on my own and I have two jobs. I also have a kitten to take care of and three writing-intensive courses in college. I have crohn's disease (If you don't know, it's intestinal inflammation that can be maintained with various medications, sometimes medicinal steroids, and apparently marijuana (which I'd rather not get into, because I'm a singer, and I refuse to do that to my lungs or throat)). Crohn's can also be triggered by stress.
Now here's my problem: My crohn's was under control until about halfway through the semester. I admit, I missed a couple days of medications, but one DAY doesn't make much of a difference, as long as it isn't days in a row. Now I'm having problems with it in a big way. I'm at the highest doses of all of the medications I can take together (for crohn's), and my only other option is an IV "miracle drug" that causes multiple sclerosis later in life. Since that runs in my family, I'm not so keen on that. Nor am I willing to put myself on steroids, as they can cause glaucoma. So I'm running out of solutions.
My friend accidentally triggered something that upset me the other day, I wound up in tears, and couldn't figure out why. Later, I realized that I'm starting to suppress what I feel are "negative" emotions, like stress, sadness, etc. This is a terrible habit, and I thought I broke it a year or two ago.
I didn't even notice how stressed I was until last month when I skipped my period. I took a pregnancy test and it came out negative, so I assumed it must be stress, since I haven't changed my diet or my weight.
I don't know why my body is reacting so badly to this stress. I've put it under much more in the past and never triggered my crohn's or missed my period. I'm on birth control, too.
I thought it might be because I don't really have an outlet at the moment. I've pretty much stopped singing, my creative writing is now for school...I go to the gym every day, but that doesn't seem to help much.
I guess I'm just looking for some feedback. Does anyone know any good ways to reduce stress?
Help =(
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Maybe give some free advice about: Mental health?
Dear 21/F
Diet, exercise, and vacations are all great sources of stress relief; however after reading your question, I suspect you have access to these common sources of stress relief. True stress relief starts from the mind. We as humans beings then to feel stressed (when we feel we are not succeeding) from our attempts to exert control over a situation we expect to have control over.
So it's perfectly normal to have an attitude of intensity over school grades and exams, but what about your crohn's in the equation? Coupled with your kitten and two jobs? In your situation it appears a distinction must be made between what is urgent and unimportant and what is important but not urgent. School is always going to be challenging and demanding, friends will let you down, now and again, and you also have to deal with your health. It sounds like the only way you can successfully reduce stress is to achieve a true sense of peace in your mind. I would suggest the services of a therapist.
Good luck and take things easy,
Ugo
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this might sound really stupid but its worth a try....
get an ipod and or put on a stero and listen to your favorite music and start dancing. its more fun if you turn off the lights. its a great way to get some of the just dance the stress stress off i have realized over the past year. and it helps you stay in shape. also if you go for a run in the cold and come back in and drink hot chocolate, coffee, or tea. it helps you relax so much. also if you try to cut down some hours or just take a day off from watever your doing and just do watever you love doing, like singing or reading or writing.
good luck, and i hope you get better. you are really strong to be living with that disease plus the stress of school and jobs. i really hope you dont have to get an IV or any of those other options.
i really hope this helps.
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yoga helps release stress also just putting on some music thats relaxing to you also helps just put the music on and just dance around a bit or just sit and listen to it also when you feel your getting stressed deep breaths in and out will work i hope i helped :)
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