How do you reduce stress/anxiety?

Princess_Lily

Between daily behavior charts coming home, emails, advocate conversations and meetings, my anxiety is at an all time high right now.

I bounce between crying to talking DHs ear off all day long. I also notice I seem to have a low tolerance for the kids when this stuff is at the front of my mind.

I find myself up at night (no time in the day) printing emails and organizing everything. This seems to be stealing my happiness, because I'm so busy - I can't seem to turn off.

How do you handle your anxiety?

MirandaHobbes

I think you have to find some way to "turn off" and focus on some other hobby- whatever that may be. I agree with auntie that printing emails and organizing paperwork isn't a high priority. Our paperwork is in a big box, and I usually only have to access it once a year. Recently I was asked to gather DS's private evaluations and instead of digging around I just called the clinic and they were happy to photocopy his entire file and send it.

I needed something to occupy my hands and brain after DS went to bed at night. I'm not one who frets about housework after hours. I took up sewing again early last year and had a lot of fun making DS a homemade angry bird costume. It was just silly fun, and I loved watching it come together to completion. Watching DS trotting around the neighborhood as a plump little angry bird on Halloween was like the best thing ever. I started a quilt after that. There's something about seeing progress and completion that made me happy. As a kid I was into a lot of creative arts activities and I like dipping into those creative reserves to remind myself that there's more to me than just the debbie downer ASD stuff. I also like to exercise, but it becomes drudgery unless I have a goal. So I'll train for a specific race. I did my first marathon about 9 months after DS was diagnosed.

kcisthebombdotcom

Daily celexa. Frequent date nights with my husband as well as nights out with my girlfriends. Support groups,

bumpuser511563

I remember I woke up thinking in the middle of the night a couple nights ago wondering why DS has not had any PT and has not mainstreamed 20 minutes. It kept me up for quite awhile. DH was up and I told him everything to try to feel better. It was so frustrating because I was tired and wanted to sleep. Nothing was going to get resolved unless I wait for the school to start to ask those questions.

A coworker/friend suggested I write my thoughts down at that point so I will not forget in the morning. I can go to sleep after writing it. I have not tried it but I will.

Hiccup15

I have been struggling with this a lot. I have been trying to fit in a book a week. I am also the type that likes exercise, but it gets put to the bottom of my list. I'm trying to change that.

I just recently took an eight week course swimming. It focused on technique and getting stronger and faster. It was great because it was scheduled and I paid money for it so I HAD to go. I felt amazing afterwords and found I could truly relax. I like to run as well, but find I still have thoughts and lists going through my head the whole time, so I just can't fully relax.

The class ended 3 weeks ago and I had plans to continue to go to the pool at least once a week to swim laps but there is always something more important going on. I guess I need to actually be taking a class and paying for it for me to make it a priority. Now that I know that, I just signed up for another session of classes and I can't wait for them to start. 

I thrive with lists. I write everything needed to be done down and then I try not to think about it. I have some paper and a pen by the bed so If I think of something while trying to sleep I can quickly write it down so then I don't worry about forgetting it by morning. 

macchiatto

Auntie covered it well.
Things like progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises can be helpful, too. 

lite-bright

When we first got our dx, I ended up on A/Ds about three months later. I was dealing with wicked PPA/PPD as it was, struggling with nursing DD2 and having to handle an ASD dx for my then-three-YO on top of it was so, so hard. 

I was on A/Ds for about 18 months. I'd always been very reluctant to use them and it completely changed my perspective. To actually have a quiet, calm mind within a few hours of that first pill (it doesn't work that fast for everyone) made it clear to me that I was dealing with a chemical imbalance. 

Now I'm at a point where regular exercise and time to myself get me through most things. However, I still take zoloft around my period for PMDD, which for me = completely crazy anxiety and a short temper. I can usually recognize when I'm ramping up and some months are worse than others. 

I do a lot of lists, too. 

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funchicken

I started seeing a therapist shortly after DD was diagnosed. I took a break for a bit when DD3 was born, but now that school is starting up again I made an appointment.

It will get better once things settle down. You're just in the thick of it right now.

Assembly_Reqd

Wine.

and occasionally rum and caffeine free diet coke.



Therapy and antidepressants are also in my coping bag-o-tricks.

Hugs. Sometimes it REALLY SUCKS. I read on Facebook that your are supposed to yell "Plot Twist" whenever a new challenge presents itself. huh. good to know.

CaptainSerious

I make lists, stay up late getting things done, and try to get some "me" time.  It works best when I can exercise, but when I can't, just reading or vegging out in front of Netflix helps me decompress and get my mind off things.