Dealing with chronic stress

Has anyone else here actually tried yoga? I gave it a shot, but honestly, I just can't seem to fully unwind, though it really is a wonderful practice nonetheless 🙂

Noah Harris50, I totally felt that description of how everything just hits you all at once... Honestly, I’ve stopped calling my current phase "stress" and started calling it "post-stress." While I was actually going through the thick of it—and thank God, the hardest life hurdles are mostly behind me now—my body seemed to be running on autopilot. My mind felt steady, focused, even. But now that the dust has settled (even if some small stuff is still lingering), the fallout is finally hitting me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just flirting with depression, though I don't even know how to put this weird headspace into words... I don't have any major tics or anything, just an occasional muscle twitch in my arm. My massage therapist says it's linked to my neck; apparently, my upper back and neck area are still super tight and she just can't work them out no matter what she does, which seems to be a thing some people here mention too. But man, the chronic fatigue is real. I've lost interest in things, I'm irritable for basically no reason, and physically, my doctors think my lymphatic system has basically stalled out. Because of that, my legs swell up constantly for months at a time, regardless of whether it's a heatwave or freezing outside. It’s this heavy, throbbing pain that's just hard to deal with...

How do you even fix this?? I'm honestly stumped... I started yoga about a year and a half ago, and while it feels good, it’s not the magic fix. Just like > mentioned above, I can't ever fully let go. I go through the poses, but I never hit that deep state of total zen. I exercise, I take breaks when work slows down or when I'm on vacation, but nothing seems to actually clear this fog... Maybe talking to a pro, like a therapist, would help me sort through my thoughts and get things back in perspective...

Has anyone here messed around with homeopathy? If so, what was your experience? I tried it along with Bach Flower Remedies, but after that first little wave of feeling calm, I ended up feeling way more tense and snappy than before. I had to quit because I was overreacting to everything at work, which was definitely not a vibe... My practitioner told me it was just a sign of all the old baggage from the past being purged from my system, but honestly, I just can't afford to be in that unstable state right now...

I've also been trying reflexology (you know, those foot massages that target different points)... It helps calm me down in the moment, but the effect doesn't really last. It’s way better than regular body massages, which honestly just seem to make my skin look great lately, haha...

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread...

The best way to handle stress is simply to find some peace and do what you actually love.

Anything else is just pure self-inflicted terrorism that leads straight to Normabel (I'm pretty sure about this 😁)

Robin Stewart44 said:Noah Harris50, I totally felt that description of how everything just hits you all at once... Honestly, I’ve stopped calling my current phase "stress" and started calling it "post-stress." While I was actually going through the thick of it—and thank God, the hardest life hurdles are mostly behind me now—my body seemed to be running on autopilot. My mind felt steady, focused, even. But now that the dust has settled (even if some small stuff is still lingering), the fallout is finally hitting me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just flirting with depression, though I don't even know how to put this weird headspace into words... I don't have any major tics or anything, just an occasional muscle twitch in my arm. My massage therapist says it's linked to my neck; apparently, my upper back and neck area are still super tight and she just can't work them out no matter what she does, which seems to be a thing some people here mention too. But man, the chronic fatigue is real. I've lost interest in things, I'm irritable for basically no reason, and physically, my doctors think my lymphatic system has basically stalled out. Because of that, my legs swell up constantly for months at a time, regardless of whether it's a heatwave or freezing outside. It’s this heavy, throbbing pain that's just hard to deal with...

How do you even fix this?? I'm honestly stumped... I started yoga about a year and a half ago, and while it feels good, it’s not the magic fix. Just like > mentioned above, I can't ever fully let go. I go through the poses, but I never hit that deep state of total zen. I exercise, I take breaks when work slows down or when I'm on vacation, but nothing seems to actually clear this fog... Maybe talking to a pro, like a therapist, would help me sort through my thoughts and get things back in perspective...

Has anyone here messed around with homeopathy? If so, what was your experience? I tried it along with Bach Flower Remedies, but after that first little wave of feeling calm, I ended up feeling way more tense and snappy than before. I had to quit because I was overreacting to everything at work, which was definitely not a vibe... My practitioner told me it was just a sign of all the old baggage from the past being purged from my system, but honestly, I just can't afford to be in that unstable state right now...

I've also been trying reflexology (you know, those foot massages that target different points)... It helps calm me down in the moment, but the effect doesn't really last. It’s way better than regular body massages, which honestly just seem to make my skin look great lately, haha...

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread...

I'm in the exact same boat... I nail the asanas, but I still can't relax at the end. Honestly, I think it's just a matter of practice. That you have to push harder and eventually it'll get better. It's the same for me; once all the stress passed, the symptoms started manifesting, and it's been a year and a half and it just won't go away. I also have that sense of total apathy... As for homeopathy, I haven't tried it; to be honest, I don't even know what it is. 😕

Robin Stewart44 said:Noah Harris50, I totally felt that description of how everything just hits you all at once... Honestly, I’ve stopped calling my current phase "stress" and started calling it "post-stress." While I was actually going through the thick of it—and thank God, the hardest life hurdles are mostly behind me now—my body seemed to be running on autopilot. My mind felt steady, focused, even. But now that the dust has settled (even if some small stuff is still lingering), the fallout is finally hitting me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just flirting with depression, though I don't even know how to put this weird headspace into words... I don't have any major tics or anything, just an occasional muscle twitch in my arm. My massage therapist says it's linked to my neck; apparently, my upper back and neck area are still super tight and she just can't work them out no matter what she does, which seems to be a thing some people here mention too. But man, the chronic fatigue is real. I've lost interest in things, I'm irritable for basically no reason, and physically, my doctors think my lymphatic system has basically stalled out. Because of that, my legs swell up constantly for months at a time, regardless of whether it's a heatwave or freezing outside. It’s this heavy, throbbing pain that's just hard to deal with...

How do you even fix this?? I'm honestly stumped... I started yoga about a year and a half ago, and while it feels good, it’s not the magic fix. Just like > mentioned above, I can't ever fully let go. I go through the poses, but I never hit that deep state of total zen. I exercise, I take breaks when work slows down or when I'm on vacation, but nothing seems to actually clear this fog... Maybe talking to a pro, like a therapist, would help me sort through my thoughts and get things back in perspective...

Has anyone here messed around with homeopathy? If so, what was your experience? I tried it along with Bach Flower Remedies, but after that first little wave of feeling calm, I ended up feeling way more tense and snappy than before. I had to quit because I was overreacting to everything at work, which was definitely not a vibe... My practitioner told me it was just a sign of all the old baggage from the past being purged from my system, but honestly, I just can't afford to be in that unstable state right now...

I've also been trying reflexology (you know, those foot massages that target different points)... It helps calm me down in the moment, but the effect doesn't really last. It’s way better than regular body massages, which honestly just seem to make my skin look great lately, haha...

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread...

Yeah, that's the classic line they drop when they run out of things to say or don't want to admit they lost the argument. I'm not buying the homeopathy thing either. I've swallowed enough of those little sugar pills to know they don't do squat. Nothing ever works.

I reckon regular yoga—like, five times a week—and staying active actually helps. But honestly, I'm so burnt out right now I can't even find the energy to start, so I just keep telling myself I'll get on it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

For now, I'm sticking to vitamins. My doctor mentioned that chronic stress wipes out your B-vitamins and Magnesium, so I started this daily cocktail:

Morning:

double the recommended dose of B-complex
600 mg Magnesium + calcium
4 EyeQ capsules
35 mcg D3
2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil
1 multivitamin

Uvece:

500 mg Vitamin C
100 mg Iron

Here's my symptom list:

exhaustion
insomnia/trouble falling asleep/waking up constantly
fainting spells/dizziness
irritability
intense restlessness/anxiety (hitting me in waves out of nowhere)
brain fog/trouble concentrating
bad memory
heart palpitations
neck tension + headaches
twitching all over (chest, heart, head)
constant worry
inability to relax
short temper
indecisiveness
feeling totally checked out/apathetic

Eric Wright29 said:The best way to handle stress is simply to find some peace and do what you actually love.

Anything else is just pure self-inflicted terrorism that leads straight to Normabel (I'm pretty sure about this 😁)

😕

Noah Harris50 said:Yeah, that's the classic line they drop when they run out of things to say or don't want to admit they lost the argument. I'm not buying the homeopathy thing either. I've swallowed enough of those little sugar pills to know they don't do squat. Nothing ever works.

I reckon regular yoga—like, five times a week—and staying active actually helps. But honestly, I'm so burnt out right now I can't even find the energy to start, so I just keep telling myself I'll get on it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

For now, I'm sticking to vitamins. My doctor mentioned that chronic stress wipes out your B-vitamins and Magnesium, so I started this daily cocktail:

Morning:

double the recommended dose of B-complex
600 mg Magnesium + calcium
4 EyeQ capsules
35 mcg D3
2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil
1 multivitamin

Uvece:

500 mg Vitamin C
100 mg Iron

Here's my symptom list:

exhaustion
insomnia/trouble falling asleep/waking up constantly
fainting spells/dizziness
irritability
intense restlessness/anxiety (hitting me in waves out of nowhere)
brain fog/trouble concentrating
bad memory
heart palpitations
neck tension + headaches
twitching all over (chest, heart, head)
constant worry
inability to relax
short temper
indecisiveness
feeling totally checked out/apathetic

My symptoms are pretty much identical to yours... how are you feeling on this regimen, and where on earth did you find such high doses of these ingredients? 😁 You mentioned you went through "major" stress—do you want to talk about what happened?

Noah Harris50 said:😕

What's so strange about it? I was under an incredible amount of stress. Then I planted 40 olive trees, and now I spend my quiet time tending to them like they're my own kids. Since then, I feel like a completely different person, even though my actual workload at the office hasn't dropped one bit.

Noah Harris50, if you set aside the insomnia and heart palpitations, I’m checking almost every single box just like you—I'm at about 13 out of 15... and this has been dragging on for like a year and a half, maybe two by now.

The thing that really gets to me is the total lack of motivation and how snappy I get all of a sudden. Like, the tiniest little things just irritate me for no real reason... My days feel packed, but honestly, I'm just forcing myself through everything because I have to get stuff done.

I actually posted on another health thread here saying I have chronic fatigue (that's the official diagnosis from two different doctors). After last summer, I dealt with a low-grade fever of 98.6–99.0 degrees for two straight months, but my lab results—as usual—didn't show anything out of the ordinary. So, I was browsing that thread, and for some reason, I ended up reading about systemic lupus... and being the hypochondriac I am (since I saw myself in their symptoms), I went to check my temperature just now, and yep, it's back at 98.8... so now I guess I have to keep an eye on it over the next few days.

Man, I don't even know what to think anymore or what to call this ridiculous state I'm in. All I know is I need a massive life reset, but right now, I have zero clue how to actually make that happen.

p.s. Bananas are awesome natural sources of B vitamins, so eating one or two every morning wouldn't be a bad idea.😉

Forgot to mention the ringing in my ears too. Honestly, I can't tell if it's louder for me or everyone else, but when stress hits, it’s way more obvious. It really kicks in when I actually try to chill out—like during meditation or just lying in bed trying to pass out. Once I start focusing on that buzzing, it drives me insane.

Insomnia is the big one; it’s basically the constant companion of stress. If you aren't dealing with that, maybe it's more like chronic fatigue mixed with anxiety? Do you actually sleep well most nights?

Bananas are loaded with Magnesium. Definitely need to eat them more often. 🙂

Robin Stewart44 said:Noah Harris50, if you set aside the insomnia and heart palpitations, I’m checking almost every single box just like you—I'm at about 13 out of 15... and this has been dragging on for like a year and a half, maybe two by now.

The thing that really gets to me is the total lack of motivation and how snappy I get all of a sudden. Like, the tiniest little things just irritate me for no real reason... My days feel packed, but honestly, I'm just forcing myself through everything because I have to get stuff done.

I actually posted on another health thread here saying I have chronic fatigue (that's the official diagnosis from two different doctors). After last summer, I dealt with a low-grade fever of 98.6–99.0 degrees for two straight months, but my lab results—as usual—didn't show anything out of the ordinary. So, I was browsing that thread, and for some reason, I ended up reading about systemic lupus... and being the hypochondriac I am (since I saw myself in their symptoms), I went to check my temperature just now, and yep, it's back at 98.8... so now I guess I have to keep an eye on it over the next few days.

Man, I don't even know what to think anymore or what to call this ridiculous state I'm in. All I know is I need a massive life reset, but right now, I have zero clue how to actually make that happen.

p.s. Bananas are awesome natural sources of B vitamins, so eating one or two every morning wouldn't be a bad idea.😉

Look, a normal body temp is anywhere from 97.7 to 99.5 (and it’s always higher in the evening than during the day).

Eric Wright29 said:What's so strange about it? I was under an incredible amount of stress. Then I planted 40 olive trees, and now I spend my quiet time tending to them like they're my own kids. Since then, I feel like a completely different person, even though my actual workload at the office hasn't dropped one bit.

Stress isn't just some byproduct of having a heavy workload.

I’m not having anything crazy regarding my sleep right now—it’s not like I can't drift off or anything (which is how insomnia usually hits me). I’ve definitely had those stretches where falling asleep was a total struggle, but things aren't consistently bad lately. Actually, I have to mention that I recently upgraded to a much nicer mattress than my old one (though the previous one wasn't half bad either). Plus, I picked up one of those anti-radiation mattress toppers that has crystals embedded in it, and honestly, I've been sleeping way better since I got it...

Noah Harris50 said:Look, a normal body temp is anywhere from 97.7 to 99.5 (and it’s always higher in the evening than during the day).

My usual baseline stays right around 97.5 to 97.9... so whenever I hit 98.6 or higher, I definitely feel like I'm running a fever. I actually clocked 98.8 both this morning and tonight, so I'm going to keep an eye on things and track it for a bit more...

placidtinker80 said:My symptoms are pretty much identical to yours... how are you feeling on this regimen, and where on earth did you find such high doses of these ingredients? 😁 You mentioned you went through "major" stress—do you want to talk about what happened?

Still stuck in chronic stress mode. Just started the vitamins this week after seeing my doctor. Won't feel a thing for at least a month.

Running and yoga are keeping me sane, though.

Doc told me the best way to kill stress is sports where you actually have to focus 100%. Like tennis, badminton, or basketball. You have to track the ball, so your brain doesn't have room to obsess over everything else. It’s basically forced meditation.

When you're running, cycling, or doing slow yoga, your mind just wanders back to your problems. You can't really do that with the fast stuff.

Also, laugh more. Watch comedies, hang out with people who aren't total drags, and surround yourself with optimists. Laughter helps. 🙂

Watch funny movies, read humor columns, grab some lighthearted books.

Try to stay positive. Force your brain to look at the bright side.

Robin Stewart44 said:My usual baseline stays right around 97.5 to 97.9... so whenever I hit 98.6 or higher, I definitely feel like I'm running a fever. I actually clocked 98.8 both this morning and tonight, so I'm going to keep an eye on things and track it for a bit more...

Why bother tracking it? You're just stressing yourself out for nothing. Just stop. If you're actually worried about having Lupus, go see a doctor. Why spend your time obsessing over a thermometer and worrying that something's wrong.

Your temp isn't going to be a flat line every single day. It fluctuates. It goes up during your period, and sometimes your body fights off tiny little inflammations without you even feeling it. Honestly, obsessing over these numbers seems pretty crazy.

Noah Harris50 said:Why bother tracking it? You're just stressing yourself out for nothing. Just stop. If you're actually worried about having Lupus, go see a doctor. Why spend your time obsessing over a thermometer and worrying that something's wrong.

Your temp isn't going to be a flat line every single day. It fluctuates. It goes up during your period, and sometimes your body fights off tiny little inflammations without you even feeling it. Honestly, obsessing over these numbers seems pretty crazy.

hahaha, okay, you totally misread me... I'm not sitting here thinking I have lupus or anything. It’s just that while I was reading up on it, I saw that specific temperature range mentioned a lot. Since I was stuck at 98.6-99.0 degrees for two months straight recently, it made me want to double-check things... so I'll keep an eye on it to see if it happens again. My doctors pretty much think it's just chronic fatigue, and they say my lymph issues (which mess with my legs) are all down to stress... I don't panic over every little thing—I joke about being a hypochondriac all the time—but when something feels genuinely off compared to my usual self, I'm gonna pay attention just in case I need to do something about it. That's why I said earlier I wasn't sure how to label what I'm dealing with, since it's kind of a mix of everything...

Robin Stewart44 said:hahaha, okay, you totally misread me... I'm not sitting here thinking I have lupus or anything. It’s just that while I was reading up on it, I saw that specific temperature range mentioned a lot. Since I was stuck at 98.6-99.0 degrees for two months straight recently, it made me want to double-check things... so I'll keep an eye on it to see if it happens again. My doctors pretty much think it's just chronic fatigue, and they say my lymph issues (which mess with my legs) are all down to stress... I don't panic over every little thing—I joke about being a hypochondriac all the time—but when something feels genuinely off compared to my usual self, I'm gonna pay attention just in case I need to do something about it. That's why I said earlier I wasn't sure how to label what I'm dealing with, since it's kind of a mix of everything...

Yeah, same here. Total junk drawer situation. 🙂

Honestly, you don't need to be checking your temperature constantly. You're just hyper-focusing on your body and inventing problems that probably aren't even there. Let it go. Isn't everything else you're dealing with enough already?

Noah Harris50 said:Stress isn't just some byproduct of having a heavy workload.

Don't lecture me on what stress feels like; I know it well enough.
I'm simply offering ways to manage it, regardless of where it's coming from.

Being condescending isn't going to help anyone solve anything.

Look, I always try to do what I love in peace, but I’m still stressed out regardless. So yeah, your advice isn't exactly hitting the mark. And I don't even know why you're calling me rude or how I'm being rude. Like, what kind of statement is even that: "The cure for stress is doing what you love in peace." 🤷
If you actually want to help, tell me about your own experience—what caused your stress, how did it show up, and what did you specifically do to find that peace while doing what you love.