How do you decompress?

Walks in the woods, gardening, soduko, puzzles and Vodka.

2 minutes ago, Sassy-RN said:

Walks in the woods, gardening, soduko, puzzles and Vodka.

You had me laughing over the vodka! LOL

Constructive things: reading, writing (I've produced two crappy novels so far, working on my third), yoga, taking walks with my boyfriend, making plans with friends, crocheting, practicing Spanish, sitting down and actually listening to music, the odd coloring page, singing, working on home improvement projects I've been meaning to get to.

Not completely constructive, but still valid self-care: Eating. If I cook it myself, great, but sometimes you just need some good greasy carryout. Drinking a glass or two of wine. Throwing a bunch of random crap in my cart on Amazon and being delighted/horrified when it all arrives in a couple days (this just happened to me today). Taking naps.

I do journal often, to answer your question. It's great, isn't it? I have fi be careful because sometimes it fuels the fire and I start to ruminate, but usually it's a great way to get some feelings out, learn something, and move on.

9 minutes ago, NightNerd said:

Constructive things: reading, writing (I've produced two crappy novels so far, working on my third), yoga, taking walks with my boyfriend, making plans with friends, crocheting, practicing Spanish, sitting down and actually listening to music, the odd coloring page, singing, working on home improvement projects I've been meaning to get to.

Not completely constructive, but still valid self-care: Eating. If I cook it myself, great, but sometimes you just need some good greasy carryout. Drinking a glass or two of wine. Throwing a bunch of random crap in my cart on Amazon and being delighted/horrified when it all arrives in a couple days (this just happened to me today). Taking naps.

I do journal often, to answer your question. It's great, isn't it? I have fi be careful because sometimes it fuels the fire and I start to ruminate, but usually it's a great way to get some feelings out, learn something, and move on.

You had me at amazon shopping and the surprise packages! LOL

I def enjoy journaling!

I’ve gotten into coloring recently. It’s fairly relaxing.

If it wasn’t -50 below, I’d go hiking with my pooches and drag the kids.

Lol at the Amazon shopping ...

29 minutes ago, pixierose said:

I’ve gotten into coloring recently. It’s fairly relaxing.

If it wasn’t -50 below, I’d go hiking with my pooches and drag the kids.

Lol at the Amazon shopping ...

Hmmm, coloring. I know a lot of people do that. I used to love to paint and draw. ?

Right after work I can’t do any of my mentally challenging hobbies so I’ll just throw on YouTube and let it roll or watch 90 day fiancé or sit in silence or apparently answer random questions on allnurses.

Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol. And chocolate.

and kitty cat kisses.

5 hours ago, NightNerd said:

Constructive things: reading, writing (I've produced two crappy novels so far, working on my third), yoga, taking walks with my boyfriend, making plans with friends, crocheting, practicing Spanish, sitting down and actually listening to music, the odd coloring page, singing, working on home improvement projects I've been meaning to get to.

Not completely constructive, but still valid self-care: Eating. If I cook it myself, great, but sometimes you just need some good greasy carryout. Drinking a glass or two of wine. Throwing a bunch of random crap in my cart on Amazon and being delighted/horrified when it all arrives in a couple days (this just happened to me today). Taking naps.

I do journal often, to answer your question. It's great, isn't it? I have fi be careful because sometimes it fuels the fire and I start to ruminate, but usually it's a great way to get some feelings out, learn something, and move on.

It’s always fun to see what drunk Pepper bought sober Pepper!

A tension pneumo? I would go for the second intercostal space along the midclavicular line.

I am currently in school and I found the stress had made my under control anxiety and panic peep its ugly head into the realm of no control. I work currently as an STNA on an adolescent psychiatry unit and decided to actually pay close attention to some of the coping techniques we teach the kids. I have developed a great list of skills to "cope in the moment", and ways to unwind when I am in a "mood" as I am usually bubbly and upbeat.

1. Music. One of the things we teach the kids is to have a playlist based on each emotion they feel and songs to help bring them out of it. Example, so when I am in a tizzy my playlist starts out with crashing classical music and with each progressive song it becomes more calming and relaxing. This way you progressively go from the emotion you are currently feeling to a better place.

2. Mandalas & Zendoodling (also know as zentangles). This has been my go-to when in class and I may get extremely anxious or panicked but can not necessarily just leave where I currently am. In the corner of a notebook or scrap paper, I start making a mandala, which simply consists of repetitive shapes around a circle (you draw the circle, then four line top, bottom, and each side, then you can add lines in between each or build from the original four, I stick to simple shapes like C, S, ^, ~, triangles, and circles). Zen doodling is extremely calming for me and I literally will draw zen doodles in anything. There are tons of videos on youtube of how to make these.

3. Essential Oils. I have a small roll on with essential oils in that help ease me. My favorite combination is lavender, bergamot, sweet orange, lemon, and grapefruit oil. I just rub a little behind my ears and at my wrist. I am a nail biter and it stops me from biting because I will smell it as I am going to bite and focus on the scent.

4. When I do get home physical activity, specifically for me dancing helps. I literally will put on some of my favorite music and dance around the house. If I need something more intense I have a Wii and a Beach body on demand subscription and between just dance and Shaun T dance workouts not only do I get in a good burn but I also feel refreshed after.

5. Nature and animals. I sit in my office and study with the windows open and a nature show on mute on TV, the diffuser with some of my favorite oils (Nature's Remedy Invigorate which is Lime, Cedarwood, Lavender, and Copiaba it is a premixed oil for my diffuser), and a Spa playlist from google. Literally creates a relaxing yet concentrated environment for me, and when a break is needed I can look up see a few animals (BBC shows are my preferred) and then back to work.