# How do you deal with stress? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218 "2013-05-01T16:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/1 "2013-05-01T16:37:23Z")
You can only pick one. Pick something that you rely on the most to deal with stress. ---
**Author:** ![Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obnoxious_Hood_Ornament)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/2 "2013-05-01T16:39:01Z")
Cats. They absorb my stress and transmute it to fur, which ends up all over my house. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/3 "2013-05-01T16:39:14Z")
Working out. The harder the better. The more exhausting, the better. Gets the blood flowing, and the body working, so helps to clear your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/4 "2013-05-01T16:45:59Z")
Prayer. Surrendering over what I have no control over to a higher power. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/5 "2013-05-01T17:04:50Z")
Used to be alcohol, but that only makes things worse. These days I just grind through it and keep in my mind that everything works out in the end. I also try and take time for little things, like leaving the office and going for a walk in the sun to get an iced coffee. Or I’ll try and look forward to making time for a good movie at night that might transport my mind to better times. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/6 "2013-05-01T17:08:00Z")
I use specific mental stress reduction exercises. I was surprised that there was no option for meditation/stress reduction exercises in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/7 "2013-05-01T17:09:00Z")
Nicotine. Used to be cigarettes, now I use an ecig. Not quite as effective, but close enough. And my clothes don’t smell smoky anymore! It’s a win-win. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/8 "2013-05-01T17:18:47Z")
Eating sweets. Thus why I’m as overweight as I am and why it’s so hard to take it off. Food = emotions and vice versa for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/9 "2013-05-01T17:20:44Z")
I just grind through it. That’s not to say I don’t do several other things on the list as a matter of course, but dealing with stress just doesn’t seem to be in my vocabulary. I experience it; I don’t deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/10 "2013-05-01T17:28:34Z")
Severely disappointed that “go into nature” is not listed as an alternative. 😕 As in, “what stress”? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/11 "2013-05-01T17:31:43Z")
Outdoor adventure sports – skiing in the winter, paddling in the summer. Just plain wandering about in the wilderness. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/12 "2013-05-01T17:33:50Z")
I voted “Other”: I still haven’t learned how. I guess that could have been “I just grind through it.” ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/13 "2013-05-01T17:51:49Z")
I use good, old-fashioned denial, mostly. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/14 "2013-05-01T17:55:30Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I use specific mental stress reduction exercises. I was surprised that there was no option for meditation/stress reduction exercises in the poll. Me too. Meditation is my go-to method. The cigarettes, alcohol, sex, porn, and sweets are recreation, not medication. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/15 "2013-05-01T17:56:32Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Outdoor adventure sports – skiing in the winter, paddling in the summer. This confuses me. Who do you paddle? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/16 "2013-05-01T17:57:40Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I use good, old-fashioned denial, mostly. A mixture of that and alcohol has worked wonders for me. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/17 "2013-05-01T17:58:08Z")
This really needs to be multiple choice. My number one choice would be avoidance, fix the problem or stay away from it. Otherwise I’ll just tolerate my way through it and unwind later with video games or relaxing on the couch, maybe with a beer. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/18 "2013-05-01T18:44:56Z")
I have to go with “grind through it” for now, but I’m working on finding a better way, because apparently that way will end up with an explosion eventually, which causes damage, and is not a great way of dealing with stress. Maybe I need to take up recreational shooting. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/19 "2013-05-01T18:55:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > This confuses me. Who do you paddle? [Fetlife](https://fetlife.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218/20 "2013-05-01T21:41:48Z")
Mostly, I read the SDMB to distract myself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-deal-with-stress/657218.md?page=2)