Stress

[Droopy]

I'm going to be having a little bit of a rough time pretty soon. I lost $140 a week off my paycheck at the beginning of the year and my bank account is dwindling. I had to pay off a few big expenses so I think the money situation will stabilize, I just won't be able to save any money. I'll be able just to pay my bills and that will be it. If something happens with the house or the truck or medically I'm going to have to go into debt to pay for it with the prospect of never being able to pay it off if the job situation stays the same. I can feel the stress creeping in and I don't handle stress too well. Some of my symptoms come back when I'm under a lot of stress.

I'm going to have to start looking for another job and that will just compound the stress. I hate switching jobs. I've been with my current employer for the last 4.5 years and they have been very understanding as far as my illness goes. I asked to be kept on 2nd shift when they went through some changes because I need some extra sleep and they were accomodating. I've been hospitalized twice since I've been with them and they were nothing but supportive. I was off for a month after the first hospitalization and when I came back they let me get right back into what I was doing before I was hospitalized. The pay cut comes because they lost some business from their biggest customer, through no fault of our own. Business is just slow for the customer and that affects us.

What worries me the most is that I won't be able to find a local job that pays well. I'm a trucker and I might have to go back out on the road to generate more income. I love being home all the time because living in a truck sucks. I did that for 3.5 years and when I stepped out of that road tractor for a day cab I thought I was doing so for good.

I guess things could be worse. I could be out of work completely and unable to find a job like what has happened to a lot of people. I just wish I didn't have to worry about money.

What are some coping strategies that you all use when you are dealing with stress? In the past I've not coped too well turning to alcohol to try to set myself at ease. I know that's not a good thing to do so help me out with some suggestions.

[DemExpat]

1. Sorry to hear about the upcoming change....

I also do not do well with changes.....:-(

My coping techniques are long, relaxing walks with my dog, hot soaks in the bathtub, listening to good music, and breathing "exercises" from the stomach, not the chest, which give me the most relief and balance when I am stressed out and tied up inside.

There are lots of good breathing books out there - but you can also go to Dr. Andrew Weil's site and search for his breathing technique suggestions to get an idea.

Writing down in a journal what is bothering me helps me by giving it a place (outside myself) so that I can go on to other things.

:hi:

DemEx

[Droopy]

2. Thanks for the suggestions

Walking is a good idea. I live right next to a river and walks along the levy would probably be somewhat relaxing. It's covered with snow right now, so that wouldn't be too fun, but when the snow melts I may just find myself strolling along the river. Although I do not have a dog with which to do it with.:( I love animals, but I wouldn't want the responsibility of taking care of one. I have a hard enough time just taking care of myself.;) I will check out the breathing site. I do enjoy writing and I've got a couple of pen pals that I've been writing to lately. I've been bouncing some ideas off of them as far as living with schizoaffective disorder goes as they have the disease, also. I know how writing can help give one perspective. I wrote out a long note to my psychiatrist recently. Now that I've had a few days to reflect on what I said in the note (I haven't given it to him yet) it seems as if the problems I was writing about have released some of their hold on me. I wrote the note because when I get into the psychiatrist's office I seem to be not able to put into words what I've been feeling. I'm not too good at conversation because it usually moves too fast for me. I need time to think about what I'm going to say. I'm still going to give the doctor the note and maybe he will help me resolve my dilemas even more successfully.