Someone briefly mentioned good deeds, which is a really cool idea. Sitting around wallowing in your emotions might not be best for you so get out and do something you’ve never done before. Or, if it’s too damn cold to go anywhere, clean a room that hasn’t been cleaned recently. Cook something new.
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. And maybe some fries.
Whoops … I forgot to add anything to the thread.
I like to lose myself in a mystery novel … or a Sims game.
My counsellor suggested deep breathing exercises … and meditation …
Yoga works wonders …
Treat yourself to a professional massage … or facial … or pedicure …
I also find that writing a letter to whoever is hurting me, or even to myself, is a great way to vent and express myself. Then I burn it … or if I come up with great insights therein, I tuck it away to read another time …
Mainly, just treat yourself well, okay? Spoil yourself the way you’d spoil your best friend …
Yoga, progressive muscle relaxation and visualization all help. But at the core they don’t eliminate the stress, just lessen your reaction to it. Its like slightly plugging a leak when the water is still running. Sucks.
Rich Mann your post absolutely stunned me. It was sort of a “Holy-Shit-that’s-exactly-what I need to do” moment.
Ultraviolet I’m sorry you’re feeling stressed. I deal with stress in very unhealthy ways, so I won’t make any suggestions, except to go back and read Rich Mann’s post again.
Ah, screw all that hot bath, long walk crap.
5 mg. of valium and an OTC sleeping pill in a glass of champagne.
The love of a beautiful woman.
At least, that’s what I would use. Y’know… in theory. 
Shopping.
Drinking.
Working out.
And I’ll second reading old favorite books. My faves are The Moon Is Down, Kidnapped, and Dracula.
Yard work.
I’ll go to the nursery and load up the truck with shrubbery (Ni!) and spend the day digging in the yard and riding around on the tractor. It’s productive, it’s good exercise, and it keeps the mind occupied.
Canoeing.
I’ll pack a cooler, grab a friend and throw a canoe in the creek and paddle up to Cypress Spring and float around for a while talking and sipping on refreshing beverages. Maybe take along a couple of cane poles and some crickets and catch and release bream and shellcrackers.
Front porch sitting.
Put on some soft ambient music and sit there in a rocking chair watching the birds and lizards and listening to the wind chimes.
Ultraviolet, I hope things are going better for ya. Sending good karma your way. 
Orgasms. Seriously, not only are they fun, they kick off a total-body reaction that relieves stress.
That said, I’m totally trying the coloring idea. That sounds so awesome.
Also, something I learned in therapy recently: while having a regular exercise regimen helps generally, when I experience acute stress I tend to use physical stuff (usually eating, but exercise is just another physcial thing) to distract myself and shove down my emotions. Now I try to analyze how I’m feeling, what set me off, and what I can do about it. I guess what I’m saying is if turning outward (exercise, outdoor activity, baths, etc.) doesn’t help, try turning inward a bit.
Since you’re in BC and it’s winter, are you getting enough sunlight? SAD can be another stressor.
Well, I stat out a D&D 3.5 character, but that’s because I’m three sigma west of geek. For someone slightly more normal, I’d recommend putting together a list of songs that make feel anything positive (happy, patriotic, romantic, etc.), burn them to CD, and take a walk listening to it. A good hour of walk and moving yourself from feeling stressed to feeling anything else for a little while helps me well.
Actually, here’s the SRD.
Maybe writing up hideously overpowered D&D characters will help you, too.
Metacom’s anti-stress self-therapy:
[ol]
[li]Excercise: I always feel better after a good run.[/li][li]Alcohol: Mmmmm, booze.[/li][li]Food: Get some indulgent take out and eat it in front of the television.[/li][li]Reading: go buy a good book, light a fire (or a candle) and have at it![/li][li]Masturbation: Hey, it never hurts![/li][li]Smoking: I rarely smoke, so on those occaisons when I do buy a cigar I get a profound buzz from the nicotine, and I don’t even have to inhale![/li][/ol]
Some of these are probably more “healthy” then others, and you should be careful about combining them. Alcohol and reading? Probably OK. Alcohol and smoking? Decent combo. Masturbation and smoking? Getting iffy. Masturbation and excercise? Almost certainly a no-no.
Your username makes a delicious contrast with the post you are praising. Or, if I’m being whooshed, it makes a great punchline!
Oh, and I second AerynSun’s first suggestion!!
[sub]Now, if I can only convince my wife…[/sub]
The coloring thing sounds like sooo much fun! But I want my mandalas today! None of this PDF crap, big ones on card stock! (Gonna stress about my stress relief now.)
Evidently some people deal with stress by still sucking their thumbs.
Thank you everyone, for all the suggestions and the good wishes. It really is nice to have this board. I always find that everyone is very helpful and kind here.
Right now I find I’m so up and down, as I usually get in these times. One hour I’ll feel okay, then I’ll feel like shit again.
Rich Mann’s suggestion of making a decision is a very good one. I have made up my mind for a plan of action, but unfortunately, as is my nature, I constantly second guess everything. I think too damn much!
I’ve tried the alcohol (moderate amounts), smoking, and food. The smoking, though, has to go. I only smoke occasionally, and I’ve vowed to quit completely before I’m 30 (3 more weeks!).
I’m going to try some of the suggestions : rereading some books I loved when I was a kid, writing some stuff down, seeing a counsellor to get my thoughts together, playing with my cat. Also, colouring sounds like an excellent idea, something sort of constructive, but repetitive, almost meditative.
By the way, Stainz, thanks for the suggestions, and are you the one that lives in Kamloops? I seem to remember that from another thread. So do I.
Well, my first suggestion is that you and Stainz should get together for a stress-relieving mini-dopefest. Social support is a wonderful stress-reliever.
Along with all the other good ideas others have had, I do something you might want to try, especially since you said that sometimes you feel good. When you are feeling good, sit down and write something that you can read when you are feeling down. Make it something that you need to hear when you are down. For example, it might go something like “I know can make it through this. I am a strong person–after all, I made it through X, Y, and Z. No matter what happens, I have {fill in your strengths, qualities, people who love you, etc.}.” Obviously, you will change this to fit your situation. It helps with me, because when I am down, I seem to forget all the good stuff.