Sometimes we just have to deal with it. I too loose my appetite etc get light headed etc.= have for years. But in a real emergency, I am usually fine until afterwards. Then I loose it and I have to talk to ME and sometimes even end up crying. Many times I just let others get to me even though they have not done anything--but I think they have. Just my personality.

Marie, I think we have the same personality. Tears come easily when I am stressed, even though I logically know that they don't help anything, I still cry. Drives my hubby nuts though, he thinks I am way too emotional. But hit me the wrong time of the month and I would agree.

Stacie

I cry it out.

With a fast-paced, deadline-driven design job, there is plenty of stress in my daily life. I've dealt with it just fine until the last few years and more so just recently because I'm now working for a new Dir of Corp Communcations that thinks she owns my soul.

The stress really takes its toll on me in so many ways. If I lost my appetite when I was stressed, I'd be able to fit into my 6th grade dresses. :-)

Instead, when under a tight deadline I eat junk and have no time for proper exercise. My neck knots up, my ulcer flares, I'm prone to allergies and my voice disappears.

This all happens probably because I stow it instead of being vocal but that's just my style. I'm very accommodating to a fault. Though have to admit, that is slowly changing as I realize the days of my life are getting shorter.

As such, I am actively looking for new employment in a field that does not revolve around projects and deadlines.

Jodi-

When I'm stressed out, I lose my appetite completely. The best remedy I've found is an intense workout.

Drugs! LOL Kidding of course. I play the piano or take long walks. Unfortunately, I don't lose my appetite! I have always kept things to myself and let it eat at me, but I am getting better about that.

I yell a lot or get snippy.
But since I don't work anymore, there is not a lot of stress in my life.

Depends on the situation. If it's something like my kids being real sick, then I can literally make myself sick (yes, I'm a wimp). Maybe b/c there there isn't much to do but to wait it out, comfort (or give medicine). I think it's more anixety, but I get physical symptoms (nauseau, going to the bathroom a lot) Those are pretty typical signs. In this case, I lose my appetite.

If it's more like work stuff, I am a crazy list maker! Making detailed lists seems to help calm me down and feel like I have a handle on all the work to do.

My DH will say exercise cures all. Sometimes I agree. I take a kickboxing class at my gym and it can really get some stress out-all that yelling and punching!

I put on my ipod and go for a long run/walk. Also, I clean when I am stressed.

Well, my 35 yo son had a heart attack a week ago Monday and a second one two hours after he returned home on Wednesday. I had to call 911.

I stayed at his house taking care of his 4 kids ages 6, 4, 2, and 3 months while his wife spent most of the time with him in hospital, and my husband stayed at our house 50 miles away because he had an awful cold. Talk about stress! I was perfectly in control and capable all those days.

Son actually returned to work today! He has never smoked, doesn't drink, has never been an ounce overweight, eats lots of veggies and fish, runs ten miles every day. And he had a clogged artery! That scared the daylights out of his father, two older brothers and three sisters, I'll tell you. We all appear to be slim, healthy, health conscious, physically fit and active. Who knew?

Stress? When hub went to son's house the day son went home, I started crying the moment I laid eyes on him. It came out of nowhere. I slept almost the entire next day at home, and only just today feel like normal. But it is taking all my self-control not to call all my kids, but especially
that son, to check on them every hour!

It depends on the type of stress.

If it is something I can do something about I take action. I'm a fighter by nature so I'm not c good at sitting back and letting things go on if they are disrupting to me.

If it's just stress in general where nothing can be done about the situation causing it I tend retreat. I want alone time and will either seek it in a book, surf the net or take a day to go to the ocean or something.

Unfortunately my physical response to stress is also intestinal so I often have to adjust how I deal to that.

If that happens I take a day to be near the bathroom and then go with my other plan.

I don't lose my appetite unfortunately. If only....

Obviously I whine like a baby then come here to vent! :)

Actually, I do get an upset stomach and many times a headache to go along with it. Until the last few years, I seldom got stressed out unless it was something huge. Now, I find myself worrying about things I shouldn't.

sherrmann - I am so sorry to hear about your son! Hope that BOTH of you are doing better!

Glad you don't know who I am. 1/1/10, I received an email
from my son telling me he was 'stressed out' and no longer
wanted any part of me. That it was not up for discussion,
so there! I am completely bewildered, heart broken and
finally accepted it. I don't understand him, he considers himself a 'critical thinker', he's well educated, has a great family and an excellent job.

His father abandoned the family (3 children, early teens)
so I was the Mother and Father, breadwinner etc.

Am not looking for advice...it's really beyond that.
it's just that everytime I see the word STRESSED, it takes
me back to that strange unfathomable email.

Paleblue, sending hugs your way. I can't imagine one of my children doing that to me. Your heart must be broken.

Stacie

I am very, very sorry, Paleblue. You must be heartbroken :(

Paleblue, so sorry to hear this. I hope that time will heal this wound.

I have a fair amount of stress due to my demanding work. I wish I lost my appetite when stressed, but I eat more to sooth the pain. A big meal, a glass of wine, bed early--and usually I feel much, much better the next day. I'm a morning person and every morning brings new hope and renewed energy. . .thank God.

I'm sorry, my post was clumsy, Paleblue. You did say you are heartbroken. I really feel for you and I hope the situation improves with time.

The last 18 months have been horrible for me. My SIL died in a tragic accident at home, I was diagnosed with hearing loss, then I was physically attacked and injured (unprovoked- crazy broad..lol), then diagnosed with two brain tumours-cause of the hearing loss, had surgery to remove most of one of them, and am facing surgery on the other (second one is a skull based tumour- not good). During this same time period, my father starting failing and waffled back and forth from asking me to help him with some serious situations he'd gotten himself into, to rejecting any help at all. I got him to stay with me for two months earlier this year, but he insisted on going back to his home, which was 500 miles away. Two weeks after he was found by the police driving his scooter in the driving lane of a main highway he was found dead in his home. Now I'm working on detangling his financial mess- there was no will, and there are not enough funds to get that certificate of appointee "thingy". I'm still trying to work full time, but my balance is poor, my vision is blurry, I can't hear well, and I have some other issues as well as a result of my brain stem starting to be crushed (well, described as "structural damage) on one side (and other stuff... blah blah blah).

Anyway, I have a lot of support from family and friends, both cyber and non cyber and that really helps. Before, I was walking or going on the treadmill to burn off nervous energy, but I can't do that as much any more because overactivity causes some distinct pains in one side of my head. So now I throw myself into whatever activity suits me at the moment. Sometimes I organize closets, cupboards, drawers etc. Sometimes I decorate cakes or cookies, or try cooking new things. Sometimes I just hang out with friends. I find focussing on interesting things really gives my mind a break from dealing with my issues. Oh, and one thing I REALLY like is playing that scrabble-like word game that I play with a couple of people- one of them is here. THANK YOU SO MUCH, my friend, for all the hours we play and chat with that game (you know who you are :) )

Oh, and my job is in social services. Rewarding/challenging/ever changing/stressful...lol.

So, pale face with the blues ...

.. that dratted son dumped his shi!load of stress on you, did he?

Bully for him!

Or ... should we just call him, "bully"?

If there are others in the family or mutual friends whom you could sound out to try to ascertain what's troubling him, I'm sure that you've done that ... or at least, thought of it.

I'm sad to hear that you've been carrying this load .. and for this long.

Have you been able to unload at least part of it on someone trustworthy?

Doing so really helps, often.

Do you know a religiously-related counsellor to whom you can talk?

Some of them are very helpful (and some less sensitive ones like to load you up with some pre-cut, ready-made, but often less than helpful, solutions).

Sorry - you said that you didn't want any advice. If what I've said is rather troubling, please disregard it completely - let it roll like water off of a duck's back, O.K.?

That said - I'm pleased that you felt secure enough to share part of your trouble with us. There are a good number of caring people here, and I hope that you'll feel free to come to share other aspects of your life.

Also, if you like the sound of someone's approach to life and would like to send a private message to that person, many of us have an option to send us an email visible on our page, if you click on "mypage" at the head of our contributions.

Good wishes to you for the days ahead.

ole joyful