Stress! How do you releive it?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

hi all..

just wondering how other health care professionals relieve stress? please share your secrets so that other health care professionals like myself can find new ways to relax after a rough shift. ;)

swtooth

Specializes in Med-Surg/Oncology/Telemetry/ICU.

The gym, baby! Watching a whole season of 24 is good too.....:D:D:D

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.
Clowns scare me too!

think it's cause of that John Wayne Gacey guy. :sofahider

Yes! John Wayne Gacey, but also the clown from the movie Poltergeist, and the one from the movie IT. SPOOKY!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Cardiovascular.

Favorite stress relievers...............

A steamy shower

A bowl of egg noodles

A massage

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I swim. I jump in the deep end of the pool and stay underwater as long as my lungs will allow. Then I float on my back and watch the world float by. Just thinking about it relaxes me.

And I drink. It it was a really bad day, I'll take a shot of something strong, like tequila. One shot only.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Nothing like a hot shower! I like to turn on the shower radio and stand under my huge Waterpik Cascading Showerhead and try and imagine all my troubles are swirling down the drain.

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Specializes in PICU, surgical post-op.
Hot tub on the back porch, snow gently wafting down around me, cold drink on the side, good book, watching Orion move across the sky.

Holy cow, that stress-reliever blows mine right out of the water (no pun intended)! Can I come use your hot tub when you're not in it? =)

As for me, I do photography. It's completely across the spectrum from the scientific world of nursing, and I love it. There's a sweet sense of anonymity when I'm behind the lens. And also, no call bells or vent alarms.

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

talking it out, big belly laugh, singing at the top of my lungs on the way home, hot bath, corona with lime, sexual relations, swimming, a trip to look forward to....self talk...keeping perspective.

Liz

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Specializes in Brain injury,vent,peds ,geriatrics,home.

Wow I dont believe anyone has mentioned gardening!Especially in the spring time.Digging in the dirt,carrying heavy items to your garden,watching the fruits of your labor grow,watering them,ect.Its so calming.Listening to the oldies along with it is also alot of fun and relaxing.While getting some excersize.Also playing with our animals is amusing and relaxing.

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

I used to SCUBA dive a lot, and found that to be VERY relaxing, and good excersize. I will eventually get back into that sport.

For now, I ride my motorcycle -I find that VERY relaxing. Listening to that big V-twin roar along as wind blows in my ears -though I will admit that in certain areas it CAN add a little to the stress.. hehe, but there is just NOTHING in the world like getting out on the open road, grabbing a big handfull and twisting the fun-handle, listening to those pipes open up and feeling the push of the wind as the horses open up... sigh.

Of course, if the weather isn't permitting, or I'm just really wound-up after my shift, I enjoy a fine cigar on the drive home (providing I didn't ride to work, and am in my truck instead).

Think I'll go for a ride! :)

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Gromit: I would eventually like to try SCUBA diving it sounds like fun! Waiting till I get out of school so I can pick up some fun and relaxing hobbies.

LOL Elizabeth: I sing out loud in the car and sometimes at home when I am alone. It is relaxing except when you forget that you have a passenger in the car or that you are not home alone.

Swtooth

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Wow I dont believe anyone has mentioned gardening!Especially in the spring time.Digging in the dirt,carrying heavy items to your garden,watching the fruits of your labor grow,watering them,ect.Its so calming.Listening to the oldies along with it is also alot of fun and relaxing.While getting some excersize.Also playing with our animals is amusing and relaxing.

I did mention gardening but forgot to mention SCUBA diving. Haven't done it since the summer before I started nursing school (2005) because I lost my primary dive buddies. One gave up the sport and the other works too much.

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

-Jim. Same thing happened to me. Quit diving when I started nursing school because my dive buddies either quit the sport (one had a new kid -well twins actually- on the way so got rid of his gear and boat for financial reasons, and the others either work all the time or moved out of state. My gear is rather old and could use replacing (my primary second stage is one of the old chromed-brass regulators -nothing like the nice newer soft lightweight plastic ones). I do miss the sport, and will eventually get back into it. Aside from riding motorcycles, diving is the most fun I've ever had with my clothes on. Its an entirely different world down there :)

My wife has never done it, and I told her when she was ready, I'd go through the school with her (I could use the refresher anyway). Maybe next year we will be financially ready to get back into it (well, for her it will just be getting into it. I think she would love it)

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