I'm freaking out about my apartment situation now and I'm totally feeling stressed. I'm feeling yucky and headache-y and fluttery tummy all cause I'm worried about finding a decent apartment by the end of the month, especailly considering I'm going out of town Thursday and won't be back till Monday.

I worked from home today to set up appointments and I saw 1 apartment today (big NO) and I'm looking at 3 tomorrow.

So, other than taking care of the things you need to take care of, how do you combat stress?

I go looting.

its kinda funny you're asking this cause lately at the college i go to i am taking a health class,in which we are discussing stress. Last week i did a four page paper on stress..okay..you have many options..go into a dark room,sit on the floor or on a bed. picture yourself somewhere like a beach,or any place that brings pleasure to you. then slowly while exhaling and inhaling count to ten..medidation, try to drink some tea that is good for like relaxing,escapism is a good from a stress,watch a funny movie,or read a funny book. the best think actually is to rethink everything you are doing comfort it! then replan everything so that it wont bring stress to you! i hope this works!
[Edited 9/4/07 17:16pm]

2the9s said:

Could you pick me up an apartment next time you're out?

Thanks in advance.

weepingwall said:

hmmm... good advice.

I can't stop obsessing over it.

CarrieMpls said:

My looting schedule is currently pretty tight, but I'll leave your info behind in graffiti on one of my sprees.

CarrieMpls said:

you shoudn't really be positive! if you don't get it don't beat yourself up! you'll try it again! remember you can actually afford a place to live in other people are homeless..sounds cruel but we have to be happy with what we have..i think.

2the9s said:

Don't forget I need hardwood floors!

working-out has helped me a great deal in reducing and dealilng with everyday stress.
i run & do weights. i'll be doing my 3rd marathon next month, so the training alone hardly leaves me any time to take on any other extra crap. i highly recommend yoga and swimming if running isn't your thing.

any other runners on here?

I know what you mean Carrie. I am so stressed that I fell last week because my mind is all over the place at the moment.
I am finding it hard to focus at work, I have insomnia and headaches.
I am trying to make myself spend less time here and more time getting something constructive done.

I wish you luck finding a place to live that you really like.

If I find a secret to shutting my mind off I will let you know.

Take care

ronnie said:

i want to run here but is real dangerous here! i mean to be out like at 8:00 clock at night and at 6:00 am..what do you recommend i should do?

I play with my kids
I listen 2 music
and I org

I go out into the garage and break plates. Seriously. Go to the dollar store and get some cheap plates.

And remember Carrie,its only temporary. You'll be fine.

ThreadCula said:

I want to go looting with you.

ThreadCula said:

uh...this reminds of a japanese cartoon in which a mother and daughter when they both get mad,take out a bunny and like punch the stuffing out of it..once they are done they are like totally relaxed,as if they did like some kind of drug. the bunny then has some internal dialogue about it like feels and stuff..

2the9s said:

I'm down.

jog or the gym. Those are the only two things that truly work.

oh wait, and go to the beach. That works too, but sometimes, I think about what is stressing me when I'm at the beach

weepingwall said:

i'm not sure what you mean by dangerous.... i go for long runs on the weekends and fit 2 short runs during the week right after work. this past year i joined a run club www.runngingroom.com nike storeshttp://www.nike.com/renov...keinfo.jsp also offer run clubs. i would suggest joining. it'll keep you motivated and accompanied while running + they're free!

weepingwall said:

Excellent suggestions. For me, escapism and the immersing of my thoughts and mind elsewhere - anywhere other than on my current worries - is what I've found to be most helpful in relieving stress. Dedicating a couple hours to a good book, an engrossing movie, or a project of some kind does wonders for my state of mind.

Another tactic I've employed is envisioning and then writing down the absolutely worst possible outcome/s for each problem I'm facing, then next to that, coming up with what I'd do in response. This exercise can be distressing, yet at the same time, it can provide a sense of control and power over the situation because you've essentially mapped out most everything that could happen and what move you'd make in response, so you feel less like there will be 'surprises' to blindside you. There's also a relief in putting your fears and concerns down in black and white vs. letting them continue to swirl abstractly around in your head.

Or, just call up a friend, and let them give you a bit of love and a good laugh. It's hard to beat that one as an effective temporary stress reliever.

Keep your chin up, Carrie. Everything will be alright.

WillyWonka said:

All great stuff, but sometimes you just need to hear that in particular.

CarrieMpls said:

comfort food, or a hot bath, or a good workout. or all three!

i'm sorry you're feeling this way, because that's a hard feeling. but i think you will be able to find a new place to live without too much of a problem. last june i moved out in four days because my neighbors were going through a domestic violence thing. i drove around the uptown area, looked at buildings, wrote down contact information and made a bunch of calls.

think of it this way - if worse comes to worse you can pack your boxes up, put them in storage and crash with friends. you're a very likeable person, i think most people would like having you around for a while. but i doubt that will be necessary.

give it a week or so. and, i'll keep my eyes out too. keep us posted okay?

I don' know what to say other than I'm sorry you feel this way Carrie.

XxAxX said:

Thanks. I already had a friend offer just that. So it's good for me to keep in mind I'm not homeless at the end of this no matter what.

CarrieMpls said:

exactly! and, keep in mind that maybe this is the universe's way of moving you to a better spot

delegate!! get those friends of yours to each see an apartment while you are away!
they can weed out the wheat from the chaff on a few places
and can send pictures of that cute place that is perfect for you!


alternatively i like my willy's notion of mapping out worse case scenarios.
what? having your stuff in someone's garage and sleeping at someone's house for a few days? not the end of the world when you think about it.

ThreadCula said:

problem with breaking plates is, then you have to pick-up the mess. That's no fun.

yoga girlfreind! :downwarddog: lol

u staying in the same neighborhood?

violett said:

Yup, yoga.

Trust me, it helps a lot.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

Yeah,but I kind of like sweeping it all up and throwing it away