Dealing with stress

[aephi alum]

How do you deal with large amounts of stress?

I've been totally stressed out lately. To make a long story short: I was laid off last month, and I've spent the past couple of months interviewing (I foresaw the layoff). I have received and accepted a job offer (woohoo ), but the new job would require me to commute 2+ hours each way via commuter rail and subway. So my husband and I have started the process of moving closer to my new job. This means selling our current house (which I love ) and buying a new place. The for-sale sign went up today at my current house (*sob*), and we spent a very discouraging afternoon today with a realtor in our target city, viewing properties and finding absolutely nothing we liked.

With all this going on, I've been overwhelmed with stress. My usual ways of coping with stress (long walk, gardening) just aren't cutting it. At this point I'm half-tempted to call off the move and suck up the commute.

Any ideas for handling the stress? (besides venting on GC )

[OtterXO]

Would it be horrible to try the commute for a month or so and see how it goes? You may find that it's worth the commute to stay in a house you love.
Also, go to the gym. That helps tremendously!!!

[AchtungBaby80]

I would like to know how to deal with stress, too, but I don't know that there really is a good way. I've always been especially prone to stressing out so over the years I've just sort of managed to work under it--but I would not recommend that!

[Tom Earp]

2 hour commute via Rail?

It better be one heck of a great job with Lots of $$$$$.

Or just drink and do some doobies!

What ever You dont do is try Your own Small Business, there is some damn stress!

Good Luck for sure!

[honeychile]

If you saw American Beauty, you know how Annette Bening handles stress:



(photo courtesy of E! Online)

[Tom Earp]

Probably screws what His butt Her Nutsoid Hubby or comes to Kansas City!

[valkyrie]

When stressed, I run, shop, or drink beer. Sometimes I do all three, and things don't usually go well when I drink and shop at the same time. I'd recommend running.

Would it help if you rented in the new city for a while -- that way, you wouldn't have to stress about finding a house and maybe you'd actually enjoy house hunting later, when things are more settled.

[aephi alum]

The gym is a good idea... relieve stress and get fit at the same time. I don't belong to a gym, but I have some gym equipment at home.

When I went in for some of my interviews, I did the train trip that will be my commute. Not only is it l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g, there are only a few trains per day on my branch of the commuter rail. This means I can't stay very late at the office - if I miss the last train home, I'm screwed. So while I do have the option of staying where I am, it's not really viable long-term. I will most likely be doing the commute for a few weeks, anyway, until we've closed on the new place and moved in.

It is a good job, with pretty good pay, benefits, and stability. I can see myself at this company ten years from now.

On the up side, you can do things on a train (read, cross-stitch, etc) that you can't do while commuting by car, which is what I'm used to. I may actually make a dent in my cross-stitch stash.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by valkyrie
When stressed, I run, shop, or drink beer. Sometimes I do all three, and things don't usually go well when I drink and shop at the same time. I'd recommend running.

Would it help if you rented in the new city for a while -- that way, you wouldn't have to stress about finding a house and maybe you'd actually enjoy house hunting later, when things are more settled.

I think You have it right on the head!

Rent a small place and commute on weekends. Farm the Kids out and have hubby come for a visit and some great whoopie!!!!

valkyrie, running will kill You, shopping will break You, but drinking some fine Lagar will make you feel Loverly!

[aephi alum]

Renting is a good idea, but I don't think it would work for us. Rental units do exist in our target market, but they tend to be small, meaning that some of our belongings would have to sit in storage until we found a house. Plus there are tax benefits for homeowners. We do still have our existing house, and I'd rather stay there than rent for a few months.

[Tom Earp]

No, No, No! You rent a studio/one bed room and commute on weekends if the money is right! Have Hubby come in once a month and have great sex in a strange environ!

Well I guess if it is major City!

Dennis Hepburn, Kates Nephew did 1 1/2 hour each way daily to NY City from Long Island. Got to Him eventually!

[KSigkid]

The gym is my biggest stress reducer; hit the weights, do some running, and by the end of the workout I'm too tired to be stressed.

[Lil' Hannah]

I tend to get stressed out the most when I have a zillion things running through my head, worrying about bills and things I need to do and such. It helps me a lot to write out a list or even just jot notes down to sort of clear my head. Don't know if this would help in your situation, but I find when it's down on paper I don't worry about it as much as when it's in my head.

[cashmoney]

Originally posted by Lil' Hannah
I tend to get stressed out the most when I have a zillion things running through my head, worrying about bills and things I need to do and such.

Haha....thats called anxiety.

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally posted by cashmoney
Haha....thats called anxiety.

Eh, I suppose. It still makes me tense and stresses me out.