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Personally I find the city life less stressful than that of the suburban.  I think it’s important to figure out what your personal stressors are.  I like that I can walk to the store around the corner if I need something, or hop on a bus to get where I need to go. i love having people around, even if I don’t know them.  For the day to day, I prefer the city.  But I do take time to go visit quieter areas for relaxation.  Whether its a park within the city for an afternoon walk or a weekend at my mom’s place by the beach, it’s important to me to spend time in quiet, outdoor settings.  I hope I never have to move out of the city, and though I understand how it can be stressful to others, for me it’s a stress reliever.

Their is something in the air.  The smell of spring just around the corner.  The smell of hope, change, of opportunity for rising above some of the stress.

Things are ever changing, ever moving forward.  Whether we want them to or not.  Life is evolving, and with those changes their is hope for positive change.  Hope for things to fall into place that we’ve been working so hard for.  Hope for the changes we are making in our lives to start to feel like they are having an impact on our daily living and stress levels. 

I feel much hope today.  And while it’s here, I’ll take it.  I will try not to doubt, question or dismiss it with the “what ifs”.  I will breathe it into my soul, use the hope to melt away some of the layers of stress that blanket me.  I will go for a walk and enjoy the cool, spring-like breeze.  And let the sun nourish my body and mind.  A good day can go a long way. 

Hope is what keeps us moving forward when life is hard, trying and overwhelming.  Stress will always be pressent in some form, but we must take the good with the bad in order to find balance in the chaos.

Love…….oh we all want it.  Having that person to call your own, to share your thoughts and feelings with.  That person to hug/cuddle/ just be close to.   Someone to write you love notes with cute little hearts on top of the “i” and draw you a bath while you drink wine in the tub. But then the dream ends and you have what we call REALITY (should be an Aretha Franklin song).  The realities of relationships for me lately have been VERY stressful.  After about a year and a half of being in this relationship, the romance, passion and all around excitement has about gone the way of Sheens drug habit (which is supposedly gone).  This being my first “live in lover” relationship I think “So this is it? This is just the way it is gong to be.”  No more “oh you watch whatever you want”, no more “Can I make you some tea?” This shift in our relationship is stressful because I have to come to the realization that this is what happens. Comfort sets in.  I have never had a relationship as serious as this so it is all new to me.  I thought you just snuggled all night on the couch watching chick flicks and then got my back  rubbed and my hair brushed all night.  But in all seriousness, facing “real relationship” stuff can be crazy making!!!

I live in the city and I much prefer to take the bus or train, or even walk where I need to go.  But I have an internship far out in the suburbs and I have to drive.  I find it very stressful! Some things  I have found helpful are to make sure I plan, when possible, to avoid traffic.  I download podcasts or update my ipod to make sure I have good music to listen to and I’ve recently started listening to books.  I often have to remind myself that the obstacles (traffic, weather, other obnoxious drivers) are out of my control and that getting frustrated by them won’t change the situation, just make it feel worse.  A lot of it for me has been about acceptance.  I don’t want to be driving, but I don’t have a choice.  So I have to figure out the best way to handle it.  

I seem to be caught in this cycle of stress running me down and leading to me getting sick, which then sucks up my time and leads to more stress! I do better in the warmer months when my immune system seems to be able to handle a bit more, but these winter months are a killer. Any suggestions on how to break the cycle? Does anyone else experience this as well?
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I’m looking for some ideas to boost energy, in the form of a natural supplement or change in diet.  I have tried adding more protein and limiting high/simple sugars.  I have also added vitamins.  Any other suggestions? 

If I ignore stress it turns physical.  Usually the first sign for me that I’m ignoring something is pain in my neck.  If I face it and try and take care of it it usually eases a bit. 

I’m sick.  Again.  It seems to be almost constant.  If it’s not a cold (which inevitably turns into bronchitis) it’s a stomach bug.  I don’t think I’ve ever had the “stomach bug” more than once in a year and now I’m on round three in less than three months!  And I’ll go to the doc and let them know, but chances are it’s just my high stress + low immunity that makes me susceptible and I’m just picking up germs. 

I had a lot of things planned for this weekend.  I had homework to get done, housecleaning that is overdue, work for my internship that I need finished up.  And instead I have been unable to do anything.  This is the first time I have had enough energy to even type on a computer.  I don’t have time to be sick, and losing three days is going to make me even more stressed!  I already called out for tomorrow, which is a huge relief, now I know I don’t have to try to push myself to get things prepared since it will likely only set me back if I try before I’m ready.

And of course I am not getting any exercise or even any healthy food intake, I have eaten nothing so far except a few crackers.  I did invest in some water with electrolytes to help with the recovery process since the last two times I was rundown for almost a week afterward.

Stress leads to getting sick, which leads to more stress.  How do I stop the cycle?

Are you saying that you gain belly fat, lose it, or feel it in your belly?

For the first time in life I have jobs that I need to drive to (before it was public transportation or walking) One job I travel from one home to another as part of my job.  Does anyone else find driving stressful sometimes?  Especially traffic or bad weather driving? I feel almost exhausted when the driving is over.  

Yes I feel like sometimes vacations can be more stressful then being at home.  The planning is one, then the coordinating while there, making everyone you are traveling with happy, dealing with the unexpected problems that traveing may bring. But I love getting out of the routine of life and embracing the bumps of traveling as something different.  AND when I am on vacation I just think” I could be at work right now.”

I don’t usually get sick and think I have a pretty solid immune system. But I have been under more stress than usual lately and guess what……I am sick. So congested, headache and overall feel like crap. This is probably the first time I have been sick in two years maybe more. Anyone else have the same experience??
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I hate to think of things this way, but there are people out there worse off than me.  Take my cousin, for instance.  She just lost her baby; trying to get pregnant for two years.  She was pregnant for three months and had a miscarriage.  She has been doing in vitro.  She will try again, but I can just imagine the stress that puts one in.  I feel so bad for her.  It’s like what do I have to complain about; right? 

Ha Ha Ha.  My vacations consist of visiting my family members.  So, yes, I am literally exhausted and stressed out by the time I’m done with that. My leisure vacations (still with family members) is also full of stress because it’s hard to relax when you think about what’s waiting for you back home. So what to do: I guess just block that out and try to enjoy.  Have fun in Palm Beach