How are all of you dealing with all of the stress of 2020.

[redstatebluegirl]

I have never had any depression or anxiety issues as such. Now I seem to feel down and anxious almost all the time. My husband and I are at it at least once or twice a week, we never got into arguments before. How are you guys coping with all of this stress? Being cooped up is really getting to me too.

[BannonsLiver]

1. THC therapy.

[2naSalit]

17. +1

[Initech]

2. Let's put it this way:

[fleur-de-lisa]

3. I'm so sorry you're having a tough time.

I'm almost embarassed to admit that I love working from home. And I'm very lucky that I can. I live alone so self-isolating is really easy for me.

I'm staying in contact with family more (via phone) and I have standing work calls each morning and evening, plus project calls throughout the day. I could do this indefinitely. I don't want to go back to an office environment ever.

[Hortensis]

14. I was also happy working at home for years. Plenty of

phone and field interaction. And a couple colleagues who went independent about the time I did to chat with, like your family, more than we did when we were working for the same company.

[smirkymonkey]

22. I also love WFH.

Initially,we were supposed to go back today on alternating weeks, but then they changed it back to voluntary since a lot of local companies are pushing out their dates. So I would rather not risk it at this point. I just don't trust the younger people in the office (that they are taking it as seriously) and I am worried about people with children as well.

I also live alone, so I have a high degree of control over how much eposure I get to other people and that reduces my anxiety somewhat. I would be perfectly happy to never have to go back to the office either.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. Watching educational programs, for me.

I might be less stressed than normal, actually, since I'm not working. All it takes is some idiotic comments from a coworker to elevate my stress levels.

My least-stressful period was in college while interacting with mostly-bright and educated people.

Edit: Trump has caused me far more stress than this pandemic. They're almost synonymous now, since he's an idiot and a liar, but he ultimately bothers me much more than a virus even if he wasn't making it worse.

[malaise]

5. Exercise and snacks

We walk 5.2K four days a week and exercise for 45 minutes after walking.
I also ride my stationery bike.

Then I enjoy snacks - fruits, nuts, chocolates, ice-cream and pastry.

[vapor2]

6. Had foot surgery in Jan

so cooped up longer than others. Therapy was my entertainment for weeks but now back to my hot yoga. Mats are 6' apart and masks are required except when on your mat. You have no idea how this helps me get thru this pandemic. This president and his family need to be held for crimes against humanity for their negligence. OR Glen Kirschner said, " involuntary manslaughter"

[CanonRay]

7. I'm stuck in a three cornered rubber room

Bouncing from sad, to pissed, to fearful and back again.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. It's been hard

I try to take some breaks from media.

Right now is especially challenging at work as we just laid off 25% of our workforce and many people I am close to lost their jobs.

[redstatebluegirl]

10. I fear that will happen where I work if we have to go to all online classes.

The students are demanding refunds of tuition if the classes are online. That means lots of staff will be out of work pretty quickly.

[redstatebluegirl]

9. Thanks, just curious.

Some of you made me laugh at least. I agree exercise helps. I had back surgery a couple of years ago, so I am not as active as I used to be. I do my stretches every morning and walk the dog around the block. I think I need more outside time. I may drive up to OKC today and go to Lake Hefner. I need a change of scenery.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. Cannabis. Thank god for legal weed or I'd have cracked months ago.

[Lilaclady]

12. Coping

Sorry you are experiencing stress. I worry about my 97 yr old Mother in upstate NY. She still lives alone and fortunately she has my SIL and niece to look in on her and take her places. I’ve been reading, watching documentaries and trying hard to avoid news overload. We are currently downsizing so that keeps us busy.

[redstatebluegirl]

13. I think some of it is news overload. It is hard to ignore it.

[soothsayer]

15. Pick fights at home, eat and drink too much, post too much

[Hortensis]

16. Reading, alcohol. :) Seriously, if one could infuse an

enthusiasm for something, I'd strongly suggest getting one and spending a lot of time happily immersed.

Health issues keep me from gardening much now, but at one time that was a big enthusiasm and I handled a lot of work stress by just going out in my garden and letting it help put things in perspective. It worked so reliably that I'd purposefully go out and get a fix, or attitude adjustment, before heading off to some worrisome day. I knew no matter what happened at work, I'd still be happy with my hubby and my garden.

Long ago I had a little passion for the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. If I could rekindle it, I would, because it'd be really perfect now. In those days searches for dusty old books didn't exactly take place on my phone.

[redstatebluegirl]

19. Part of my problem is I can't garden any longer, my back won't allow it.

I miss that release, especially now.

[Hortensis]

26. It's just a little hot out here in FL on Aug 3, so a little

tour of a Scottish rose garden in June sounded nice. My favorite gardens are home gardens like something I might do in another time and place, but this one isn't bad.

[redstatebluegirl]

27. Very cool! Maybe I need to virtual garden !

[Hortensis]

29. Perhaps Initech, and others, would join us for a virtual glass of wine

after touring the Giardini di Augusto on Capri.

[redstatebluegirl]

30. That would be great fun!

[Hortensis]

32. Wish we could have it overlooking that stunning view,

but outside a little cafe below awful nice anyway.

[Initech]

21. I know when 2021 gets here I will be like:

Of course assuming Biden is elected president!

[Sherman A1]

18. Doing okay

but I was always a homebody and being retired I don't have to deal with the abuse at Retail that I had for 4+ decades.

[North Shore Chicago]

20. Watching

Baby Armadillos play with new toys

Starving puppy turning into Clifford the Big Red Dog

Baby goats running around in pajamas

You know, the usual.


Hang in there, we are all in it together.

[hamsterjill]

23. Good days and bad days.

It’s too hot to be outside much right now so that’s an issue. I have some days where I feel hope and other days when I feel hopeless. I’m counting the days until the election.

I limit media exposure and make sure to do something for myself that feels good. A lot of times that’s just taking a long shower or something really simple, but it does help.

I’m a glass half empty type anyway.

[redstatebluegirl]

24. Yea I get it. I use this place as my sane place.

I need to start limiting my news for a while. I swear it is a different level of nuts every day. Thankfully it is very nice here today, in the low 80's which is more than strange, normally it is over a 100 and miserable here in July and August. I can't garden anymore, but I can sit outside and read. I need to take care of myself more.

[Tracer]

25. I'm not stressed, but

I am bored silly. Not only bored, but having trouble working up the energy to do basic household tasks.

I've worked from home for years and enjoyed the work and the interaction with my clients. But my clients are out of business, so I have no work to do and find the days to be very long.

My two dogs make it necessary to leave the house every day for walks -- sometimes on trails in the woods which is nice. Just being in quiet nature is calming and somewhat refreshing.

I love to read, but my library has been closed for months. They finally figured out how to allow for borrowing, but the method they use is so clunky that it takes about 10 days just to get a couple of books. Infuriating.

Speaking of infuriating, I unfortunately keep up with the news (daily newspaper, MSNBC, DU etc). Maybe I should give myself a break from Mr. Stupid and his enablers.

[kairos12]

28. Exercise, chess, and studying foreign languages.

[Kaleva]

31. I'm not stressed. I try not worry about things outside my control.

I plug along making preparations for what is likely to come such as climate change which is happening regardless of who wins.