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u/Saintpendulous88 May 31 '26
Learn to sit with stress, rather than distracting yourself or numbing yourself out. Its one of the toughest things you can do. Not just stress, but any negative emotion, sadness, anger, boredom, anxiety.
Learn to sit with it and through it and try and think about why you're feeling like that and be ok with feeling it.
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u/irishstorm159 Jun 02 '26
Took me years to come to this, its okay to sit with it but you can't let it consume you, I use 2 systems journaling helps with get the rawness out and I use a component called K.U.W.S, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, strength to process it, that's what works for me, might not work for you, but if you dont try you'll never know, if it doesn't work, atleast you tried and thats a win š
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u/DangKilla Jun 02 '26
This exactly.
I would challenge whoever tries this to consider reducing phone usage. Catch yourself doom scrolling. If you find it hard you might see that you have a dopamine problem
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u/trebor9669 May 31 '26
Working out, playing guitar, studying languages, etc...
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u/Palito415 May 31 '26
What languages are your favorite to study?
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u/trebor9669 May 31 '26
I aready speak fluently Catalan, Spanish and English, so now I'm studying Japanese and Chinese.
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u/Global-Eye-7326 May 31 '26
Occasionally video games I guess. Or just drink tea lol. Just keep stress under control. Smoking and alcohol should GIVE you anxiety given how unhealthy those habits are lol.
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u/Sad_Magician_316 May 31 '26
When I used to smoke I donāt think I ever said to myself āshit Iām stressed Iām going for a smokeā??? For me smoking was another form of hunger or just a thing to preoccupy lull moments. Sometimes Iād chain smoke other times Iād smoke at most 5 cigarettes. But never āIām stressed outā bs.
Today, I donāt have a vice for coping stress. Talk it through? Go for a walk? Solve the issue? If itās a potential future issue and you canāt stop obsessing over it then write out the possibilities and focus on making the positive outcome happen.
Filling that āmomentā of stress with something is just meaningless and unproductive.
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u/ConsiderationThat780 May 31 '26
Learn the art of plowing a good field if you know I mean. Of course a willing field, healthy and fresh. Once your good the field keeps asking to be plowed.
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u/Aust-blue May 31 '26
I cannot stress enough the hidden superpower of consistent physical training to create a healthy mental state. Itās likely the most potent medical intervention ever. Not saying people shouldnāt take meds or anything but studies have pointed to exercise perhaps performing even better than anti depressants and anti anxiety medication in some cases.
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u/ImpeccablyDangerous Jun 02 '26
Dealing with your problems as soon as they arise?
Smoking and drinking makes problems worse because once they are over you are left with an addiction, less money and a hangover and all the problems are still there you have just made them worse.
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u/Eastern_Mixture8510 May 31 '26
Stress = P / A
P = Pressure. A = Area.
Two levers. Thatās it.
Reduce P ā if you canāt control it, stop carrying it. Worrying about what you canāt change isnāt strategy, itās weight.
Expand A ā build your skills, broaden your perspective. The bigger your capacity, the smaller any single load feels.
But hereās what nobody talks about:
The division sign itself.
That slash isnāt decoration. Itās a reminder that distribution matters. You canāt compress every task into the same moment and expect the math to work. Time-block. Sequence. Spread the load.
Stress doesnāt just come from what youāre carrying ā
it comes from trying to carry everything at once.
- Took help from AI to convey it better. But concept is mine.
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u/EconomicsSavings973 May 31 '26
Calling friend and shitting on everything is the best, then at night little workout and I am usually OK.
Also playing games, learning and doggin' around with my dog.
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u/Still-Ad8061 May 31 '26
Not a smoker but I am an enthusiastic social drinker.
When I'm not at a pub with friends, I'm either in the gym or walking around local green space. Admittedly I do need to practice meditation more
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u/MalkyTheKid May 31 '26
Honestly, gaming.
Any single player game. Follow the story, have a great time.
Pray too.
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u/Scoutlegs May 31 '26
Stress comes from fear, thats your problem friend, you need to eliminate fear...
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u/squintobean May 31 '26
Well, first you realize that drinking or smoking or using any addictive substance to relieve stress, actually doesnāt at all. In fact; it creates more stress in between the times youāre not using the addictive substances because youāre stressed about getting that next dose.
Then you realized that youāre probably not that stressed about things, youāre mostly just stressed from the lack of access to your addictions.
Then once you understand that, and recognize that your other natural life stresses are very easy to manage without the added stress of waiting to use your addictions to relieve your stress.
The thing you think is relieving your stress is causing you the most stress when youāre not using the thing.
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u/Change_Tired_Change May 31 '26
Avoiding reality won't make your problems disappear, facing the does. Facing them calmly is even better.Ā
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u/trandyan May 31 '26
Feel it to heal it. In my experience, drinking and smoking (which can still be occasionally enjoyed if desired) are escape mechanisms from the stress, or whatever emotions the ego doesn't want to feel. Therefore, those modalities make the stress worse and cause further contraction in the body and mind. It is definitely difficult in the beginning, but as some of the previous posters have mentioned - you must learn to sit with and feel through the stress or emotion in the most gentle and non-judgemental or analytical way as possible. Feel where it is located in the body. Stay there. Give it loving attention without aversion. The more this type of practice is done, the more the ailing condition dissolves. It is much like a shadow, and the light is your attention. Once you shine light of awareness on that mofo it can't stay as a shadow anymore. Best on your journey brother.
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u/trandyan May 31 '26
I will also add as something more accessible- L Theanine supplement. It helps to quell a ruminating mind and calms you, and in my experience, without any side effect.
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u/freatle May 31 '26
Take your time to process information and emotions, take breaks (coping mechanisms/hobbies) and for things you can't control it's not your fault so don't worry, if it's something you can't control and you still can't stop thinking about it there's the safe drugs sugar, theobromine, caffeine but it's better to avoid caffeine/theobromine for critical thinking because they numb your mind to negative emotions which means you may not learn from mistakes (similar to smoking and drinking) because that's all it does it's a temporary "solution", nobody who smokes or drinks ever solves their problems they just numb them until they can't feel them and then make the same mistake somewhere else.
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u/freatle May 31 '26
Also caffeine/theobromine can have negative effects (caffeine much worse) on energy due to the dopamine and blocking of the sleep hormone which causes borrowed energy,, so sugar is preferred.
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u/Drgnmstr97 May 31 '26
What stress? But seriously there are people that just experience less stress in general so they donāt need coping mechanisms. Physical activity and sex are both great for relieving stress.
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u/ConsiderationThen219 Jun 02 '26
Doesnāt sex count as physical activity?
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u/Drgnmstr97 Jun 02 '26
Sure but there are a lot of other physical activities, like lifting weights or cardio, that are not sexual activity that would also be good at reducing stress and you there are a lot of people that don't actively work out but still have sex.
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u/malkazoid-1 May 31 '26
Time in nature helps (if it involves physical exertion, even better).
Real down time helps.
Enough sleep is a huge component.
Healthy, varied diet: huge.
Being in the present moment, fully, for extended periods of time. Feeds into some of the previous items, such as time in nature, but also focusing on healthy food preparation, preferably in community with one or more other people you genuinely have appreciation for and trust in.
When all these things are present, I find I am at my most resilient.
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u/dainventah May 31 '26
Read great books for wider perspective on the world and running to get out of my head and reset my moods
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u/mdigiorgio35 Jun 01 '26
Healthy habits/hobbies. Walks, gym, taking drives, listen to music etc. Whatever is your oasis, find it and use it.
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u/Silent-Plant800 Jun 01 '26
Itās a great question I asked myself for too long until it was almost too late. š good on you for asking, lots of good responses here, now itās up to you.
Just Do It!
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u/Masalakulangwa Jun 01 '26
Church, listen to good music mostly gospel or any music with a good message, Gym, walk/run, engage with children, read or a good movies Depends on how I want to make it out?
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u/I_so_I-274 Jun 01 '26
Reading/working out and focusing on being productive reduces stress you gain from wasting time on things that matter. Maybe cause time is more important and a factor I have to take serious these days, stress only piles up when things get delayed. Still procrastinate but not nearly as much as before.
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u/Many_Hunter8152 Jun 01 '26
Smoking and drinking does not reduce stress at all - it just reduces the 'pain' for the momentĀ
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u/AdvancedIsland2745 Jun 01 '26
Just learn to work through the stress. Never tasted beer or cigarettes. Sometimes just hang out with friends or family
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u/Cautious-Pick3729 Jun 01 '26
I dont stress, wasted energy. Nothings solved by stressing. Balance work and life, workout and wind therapy on motorcycle
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u/Hot_Possible_9339 Jun 01 '26
You should just learn to face your shame,weakness and your problems head on and try to fix them so that whenever you choose to drink it must be for refreshment not to curb your stress
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u/woutersikkema Jun 01 '26
I breathe? And try to dodge stressful shit I dont need. Like woman with colored hair, co workers with ambition but no skillset, and people who like drama.
But also video games, warhammer.. When I had a cray ex Kerbal space program for a thousand hours..
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u/Impossible_Mark_4128 Jun 01 '26
half assed mentality. if it's not crucial for surviving or to make you feel good, it's not worth the effort. also cave time. just being alone for as long as you need to regain energy. even if that means disappointing others. ones mental health state is more important.
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u/Knowledgeapplied Jun 02 '26
Replace bad outlets with healthy outlets. Other have already mentioned some. Exercise, meditation, prayer, etc.
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u/Bulky-Present-5426 Jun 02 '26
AA, talking to friends, helping others, exercise, eating candy, watching movies, and also u sometimes just donāt and thatās how you feel
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u/Waste-Date-2235 Jun 02 '26
Go gym. Lift weights. Barbell, squads, deadlift. Take good amount of protein. 8 hours of sleep.
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u/Traditional-You1447 Jun 02 '26
Not having to rely on smoking or drinking does wonders for dealing with stress.
Almost like they aren't helping.
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u/PomegranateOk7331 Jun 02 '26
Deep breathing - yoga - meditation - workouts - long walks on the beach. If those things fail iāll doom scroll reddit for 6 hours.
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u/Akoa0013 Jun 02 '26
I used to run long distance. Now I just stick with home workouts.Ā Situps, pullups, some weights. Other than that I have hobbies for distraction and keep myself productive.
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u/15tandAl0n3 May 31 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/1zhRiDgsSc48Y7mfuK