What do you do to relieve stress & beat exhaustion

[jax373]

Hi all....mostly a lurker but I have posted a few times.

I've been extremely stressed out lately. And exhausted. Like beyond exhausted. Basically, H is stressing me out. We live apart but he is constantly trying to woo me back. I'm done with the marriage and I've told him this numerous times (we are only seperated, no divorce yet since I'm trying to get my finances in a better place to afford a lawyer). I'm trying to ignore him unless it is about the kids (we have a 3 yr old and 11 month old). And sleep...haven't had a decent nights sleep in well over a year (due to having a baby and she still nurses during the night, we bedshare most of the time). Anyway, looking for suggestions on how to relieve some stress and not feel so tired all the time.

I am planning on trying to night wean sometime soon but DD2 is teething right now so nursing is our saving grace for getting ANY sleep right now.

I know I should try to exercise but the problem is that I am just too tired to!

[blackkitty]

Yoga
Meditation (I use a CD that I could recommend if you are interested)
Bubble baths
Massages
Spending time in nature, like watching the sunrise or set or just sitting an staring at the full moon

[jax373]

blackkitty - what is the CD that you use?

Unfortunately, my H works nights over the weekend (Fri and Sat nights) so him taking both kids won't work. My mom is pretty helpful with taking the kids for a little while at times so I might have to utilize her more to get naps.

I think I am going to have to try to get some exercise in, even if it is only a small walk each day.

[blackkitty]

Sept 4, 2012 12:44:31 GMT -5 jax373 said:

blackkitty - what is the CD that you use?

Unfortunately, my H works nights over the weekend (Fri and Sat nights) so him taking both kids won't work. My mom is pretty helpful with taking the kids for a little while at times so I might have to utilize her more to get naps.

I think I am going to have to try to get some exercise in, even if it is only a small walk each day.

I use this:
tinyurl.com/8hlg9yh

It's awesome, and I love it! You don't even have to pay attention to what they are saying, I just lay down, close my eyes and drift in and out of consciousness. It's the most amazing feeling in the world when it's over. I'm always so relaxed. Hope you enjoy

[jax373]

Sept 4, 2012 12:48:36 GMT -5 @blackkitty said:

Sept 4, 2012 12:44:31 GMT -5 jax373 said:

blackkitty - what is the CD that you use?

Unfortunately, my H works nights over the weekend (Fri and Sat nights) so him taking both kids won't work. My mom is pretty helpful with taking the kids for a little while at times so I might have to utilize her more to get naps.

I think I am going to have to try to get some exercise in, even if it is only a small walk each day.

I use this:
tinyurl.com/8hlg9yh

It's awesome, and I love it! You don't even have to pay attention to what they are saying, I just lay down, close my eyes and drift in and out of consciousness. It's the most amazing feeling in the world when it's over. I'm always so relaxed. Hope you enjoy

Thanks! I'll have to try this out.

[achase123]

It sounds like you're emotionally drained. I always feel better after I talk to my counselor, that definitely helps.

Working out will also surprisingly give you energy. Yoga is great for tension/stress relief.

What about meditating or listening to calming music?

[emma245]

I do pilates and journal. Pilates kicks my A@# but then I feel better and more relaxed usually and writing my feelings out really does help. Therapy works wonders too but is $$$ for me at least so I try to do things that are free.

One thing you might do that my therapist suggested is write a bliss list: Things that are free that can calm you (ex. warm bath, hike, walk, glass of wine, enjoying a book, callling a friend). Do one thing on your bliss list a day

[formerlyak]

Honestly I am so stressed right now between work, my school, trying to navigate things at ds' new school, dealing with drama ds' old preschool "friend" is causing him at said new school, planning my wedding, dealing with ex's bitchiness (he gets bitchy when he fights with his gf), trying to work in time to exercise that I probably shouldn't answer this.

But when I get so stressed I feel like I am going to burst -- like I did over the weekend -- I have a spot in the hallway upstairs in my house that gets a nice cool breeze all the time. I lay down there and concentrate on my breathing. When ds asks what I am doing I just tell him I like the breeze there and it helps me think about all the things I need to do and how I will get them all done.

Fi knows that I lay there when I am feeling overwhelmed and he asks how he can help, which is nice.

Sometimes I just need 5 minutes to breathe. This morning I was in the kitchen with fi and I said to him, "I need to slow down." He said he was waiting for me to get to that realization. Finding a way to slow down for 5 minutes is what I need sometimes.

I like has everyone mentions exercising, but to be honest, finding time to fit in exercise sometimes stresses me out even more. That's just how busy I am.

[leahmel]

Yoga and meditation.

[naeljun]

Sept 4, 2012 12:29:28 GMT -5 mintchocochip said:

I feel less tired when I exercise and eat healthy. Even getting outside for a 10 minute walk everyday can give you more energy and make you happier.

This exactly. when I eat better, I exercise more, and I sleep better.

[cemacmil]

Sept 5, 2012 19:43:06 GMT -5 naeljun said:

Sept 4, 2012 12:29:28 GMT -5 mintchocochip said:

I feel less tired when I exercise and eat healthy. Even getting outside for a 10 minute walk everyday can give you more energy and make you happier.

This exactly. when I eat better, I exercise more, and I sleep better.

Kind of this. DD is almost 14 months and even though I only have the one....when I feel super tired, like the "let's just all nap all day" tired - sometimes I just pack up DD and make us go for just a little walk around the neighborhood. It gives me a slight boost until nap time at least.

DD sleeps in her crib and always has, but doing this just us since before day 1 - I totally get the no sleep for over a year thing. I think LOs that small plus the stress of ending a marriage/relationship plus running a household (which sometimes feels like a small bushiness plus physical labor) can be really really exhausting!

Lastly - have you let your emotions go? Like cried, screamed, yelled, talked out loud to no one? I find sometimes if I do this in the shower at the end of a hard day or in the car - it helps with getting good sleep without the brain working overtime.

[redredwine]

Wine.

Natural sleep meds (there's a great one I found at Whole Foods..it's a Melatonin/Herb mix). My naturopath recommends adding Theanine, too.

And yes....for healthier options, I do enjoy a good workout, run, etc.