Posting here to poll everyone on their favorite ways to relieve stress.
I think I’ve always kept up with the queue of stressors in my life, being careful to self reflect on any big things that shook me up a bit. However, the older I get the more likely I am to smile and move on or shove things down that weigh on me (because all that introspection takes time). I’ve been going to this somatic experiencing (https://traumahealing.org/se-101/ ) therapist who has a specific focus on how the nervous system responds to internal stress (fitting for VM right?). It’s opened my eyes to the ways I might have pent up emotions that I’m unaware of, and how these can hype up my nervous system unfavorably (migraine).
I know we’re a group who’s had to learn to accept things we can’t control. I’m wondering how you all like to release all that tension??
Going for walks helps me a lot, too. I also let myself move more slowly, do one thing at a time, tamp down the inner planner who wants to intellectually multi-task 24/7, be as embodied as possible. Something about slowing down (meaning the actual pace at which I’m doing something) relieves the depersonalization somewhat. The whole “feel the space you occupy” thing in meditation has some merit😊, even when that space is moving
I love the “feel the space you occupy” idea. Lately when I feel the depersonalization really strong, I tell myself I’m not going anywhere that I’m committed to my body no matter what it feels like. Sounds cheesy but it helps ground me a little
How does anyone do gardening with this horrid condition? Pulling weeds, repot plants all requirement body movements which trigger your head to feel horrid followed by dizziness followed by headache. I had a horrible episode yesterday when I discovered that the squirrels got into my potted geraniums in all three of my deck planters and I immediately had to bend down to pick up the soil on the ground then redo the planters with more soil and then sprinkle red pepper flakes and coffee grounds on the soil to deter the rascals. Well the up and down and sideways motions rendered me useless the rest of my Saturday. I could not function after that. That was a huge trigger for me. Doesn’t anybody else suffer from the same symptoms as me on this site? I thought that’s what vestibular migraine was: Sensitivity to motion- the body movements is a big trigger. Despite doing vestibular therapy exercises. These are my main triggers: motion, lights as in stores, screens phones and computer, and sounds. I get shooting pains in the back of my head if I’m already triggered and I have to answer a phone or listen to something.
i’m confused. What are the symptoms everyone else has? What are your triggers? What do you take when you get the dizzies and headache? The neuro had prescribed Prochlorperazine 5mg to try. I think it helps a little but after many hours have passed during which you are UNfunctionable. Does anybody else have episodes like that. For me the whole day is shot when this happens. I have to lay down, wait for the next day to come for my system to reset. And all this takes a toll on me and causes tremendous anxiety and feelings of sadness at my condition.
I struggled like you until I found the right drug combo. Now I can garden on most days but when I’m having a bad day I don’t try. Keep searching for the right combination of meds and lifestyle modifications – don’t give up!
The year before I retired, I worked the night/on call shift. My only duties were to answer the phone when it rang after hours for an emergency service call. I had to monitor the phones from 5PM to 8AM. I was tasked with being familiar with service jobs that were carrying past 5PM local time and track that call to completion.
At 8AM, I tasked with updating the incoming Customer Service Representative with how each job had gone, and if any follow-up was required.
After that, I had the day to myself. I gardened I shopped, I did whatever struck my fancy.
Stress? I don’t think I had any? I found the secret to less stress was less responsibility.
Fast forward to today, I’m retired, I no longer have any responsibilities other than to pay my bills, and make sure my wife is happy. (She’s easy to keep happy, she tries to keep me happy.)