Last week was one of those where stress levels are sky high and then one more thing comes down on you and that’s it. Stress skyrockets to outer space. I decided to ask friends for their favorite stress-reducers. The question led to some great comments, from serious to ones that made me laugh (which, of course, reduces stress). I thought I would share, in no particular order.

Therapy chair and Xanax.

Chocolate and music.

‘Pieces of Her’ on Netflix.

A big bowl of ice water, and a full face implant into it for two to three seconds and repeat at least once to reset. Or a cold shower, full body, for sixty seconds or more. Breathing through slow and deep, then stepping out, breathing to relax, and warming up with a warm shower, still focusing on breathing. The cold shocks the system to break the stress cycle.

Repeating ‘this, too, shall pass’.

Epsom salt bath soaks, and rubbing Epsom salts directly on the neck, shoulders, and underarms.

Watching a funny TV show or movie. Watching that favorite movie with your pets.

Go outside and breathe in cold night air, and taking such a deep breath that when you let it out your shoulders drop and a feeling of warmth floods your body, and then remembering how loved you are.

Using the F**k word and shots of good tequila or whisky, and a big bear hug.

Meditating. Going to a favorite place in your mind and imagining how you would feel there. Also imagining you are being held and hugged by a favorite person. This could even be someone from your long past.

Breathing, slow and deep, inhaling through the nose and exhaling out the mouth with the ‘ah’ sound of relaxation. Ten times or more. This rewires the system. (and belly breaths rather than chest)

Knowing you don’t have to explain anything, simple, short prayers for help to calm you, and for peace of heart.

If being pressed for answers, responding with ‘let me get back to you on that’. Delegating. Remembering that friends will often let you delegate to them.

Yoga and meditation.

Remembering that critical issues will pass one way or another, and ask yourself how much it will matter in a week, a month, or a year from now. Let go of those that loose their potency over time. Stay the course in your heart and you’ll know what to do and you’ll make it through, and eventually these issues will be behind you.

Hot tub, chocolate, tea, a good book, crossing your arms/hands and slapping them on your chest/shoulders, yelling, shouting, screaming, punching pillows, running.

Writing down the things bothering you because putting things on paper helps clear the brain.

Scan through your body. Notice the tension. Invite each piece of tension to soften one at a time. Ease out of the saved up cues of danger leftover from past times so that your body can more accurately assess what amount of safe there is right now.

Acknowledge every feeling, identify the underlying fears, angers, etc.. It’s amazing how much less power those fears have after you do that.

Sound frequency for healing and stress relief.

A pocket rock. Find a rock that gives you a good feeling and touch it when you feel stress, and focus on how it feels. The rocks get smoother over time.

Obviously I couldn’t do everything on the list, but there were some that definitely resonated with me, like the pocket rock. My sister gave me a polished stone years ago to carry with me when going to radiation treatments. I still have that stone and keep it in my crochet basket. I pulled it out. This also reminded me of cultures that use worry rocks and pass them down through generations of family, so the stones end up polished smooth and with worn curves.

Going outside into the fresh air. I went for a walk with a friend and later spent some time out in the cold listening to the wind in the trees.

Remembering to breathe and lower my shoulders! When I read the comment about scanning through my body I realized my neck was stiff and my shoulders were practically up blocking my ears.

The reminder that what I was stressed about will pass and a year from now I probably won’t even remember. How true that is. Also, recognizing the underlying fears. Isn’t fear always underlying stress?

And of course, a hug from the husband always, always, abolishes stress and fear and tears and anger and anything else I need to release. He insists that a hug should last at least 45 seconds to be effective. I count slow.

I found it interesting that many of the comments related to resetting your system, almost shocking it back into balance. As in the bowl of ice water or the cold shower. And of course the many comments around deep breathing, which I think is also a way of resetting the system. This reminded me of a friend who regularly does the polar plunge in our frigid river. It’s a ritual for her and has resulted in some beautiful poetry.

So the stress is greatly reduced and I’m reminded once again what wonderful, wise, and loving friends I have. They are all valued more than they probably know.