How to do you manage stressful situations?

[pistonheadforum]

What techniques do you use to help in a stressful/difficult situation?

When things are going wrong or there is too much incoming, what method do you have for coping/calming down?

Whether it's sports related (critical putt, important race) or handling the daily stuff that comes to you?

I like to imagine it's all gone wrong already and therefore anything I do will only make things better. The helps reduce the feeling of paralaysis or not being able to make decisions or take action incase it's the wrong decision and makes things worse. I also sometimes just go "what the heck" I don't really care (even though I really do). This also frees me to have an outcome independant mindset.

What other mechanisms are worth learning and using?

[PositronicRay]

Me I walk, many a strategy developed, problem solved, difficult conversation compiled whilst I'm out with the dog.

Otherwise lists, writing stuff down helps me devise some order.

[Fatball]

I usually just crack on and wonder why I can’t sleep and have regular flash backs.

I try and get out and have a walk, normally North Wales and a proper mountain but currently can’t do that so covering around 10 miles on a walk locally, gives me chance to be alone in a nice area and think things through. There’s no time to reflect when the stress hits in work.

[greygoose]

Decide what things are most important and do those first, some things can be put off forever and forgotten about, delegate other stuff (not a great strength for me as I lack patience).

Mull things over afterwards whilst washing the cars or having a walk and ponder what I could have done differently, no point being too self-critical though or you end up paralysed by indecision, sometimes you just have to trust yourself.

[ChevronB19]

Racing: deep breaths, longer on the exhale.

Work: panic and procrastinate.

[wombleh]

Badly if I’m honest.

Tactics I need to use more are some mindfulness exercises like just closing eyes and take ten deep breaths, concentrate on the physical sensation of breathing. The headspace app is pretty good, used that when was having major child related stress.

[shouldbworking]

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy principles. Why am I feeling stressed? Is there anything I can do about it? If so, do it, if not then you know you've done everything you can do.

[Doofus]

Banal, perhaps, but these are what I use:

You can only do one thing at a time.
Why worry about this things you can't control?
What's the worst that could happen?
It'll be ok in the end, and if it's not ok, it's not the end.

[thebraketester]

Have a tug.

[anonymous-user]

Boxing

[p4cks]

Understanding spheres of control and spheres of influence. Once you've mastered this, fewer fks are given and life is absolutely bliss

[anxious_ant]

Alcohol. After all it's known to reduce stress

[Jaaws]

If I could manage it, it wouldn't be stressful.

[Evoluzione]

Avoid them.
I'm in charge of my life as are you, if you can't handle it or it stresses you then don't do it.

[monkfish1]

Evoluzione said:

Avoid them.
I'm in charge of my life as are you, if you can't handle it or it stresses you then don't do it.

Ive long concluded, this is the answer.

However, not quite so easy to achieve. One needs an income, and with that comes the stress. Which takes fou straight back to the original question.

[Jiebo]

I’ve recently (about 2 months a go) started a stack of panax ginseng, rhodiola, Siberian ginseng, omega 3, good multi vitamins. And then Valerian and L-Theanine at night.

Memory recall is significantly better, can understand new things quicker, problem solve quicker, and stay calm under stressful moments as most are ‘adaptogens’. My work is highly pressure and taxing intellectually, and this mix has been a massive help.

Your mileage will vary as everyone is different, but recommend them if you haven’t already tried.

[Thisonepotato]

I sort of use the Worry Tree flow diagram for the stressful scenario and usually by the end I realise it is not worth sweating it. It has taken me a while to not sweat it though.

[PositronicRay]

Evoluzione said:

Avoid them.
I'm in charge of my life as are you, if you can't handle it or it stresses you then don't do it.

A good tactic, but somethings just happen!

[Drezza]

I try avoid them when I can, but when I can't go at them head on knowing that the sooner I get it done, the sooner it's over.

[Riley Blue]

Drezza said:

I try avoid them when I can, but when I can't go at them head on knowing that the sooner I get it done, the sooner it's over.

How would you apply that to a chronic illness? Mine, and my partner's, have been the most stressful things I've had to deal with. You can't avoid them nor 'get them done'.