Stress Relief

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

So school has been back in session for almost a month now. I think I was spoiled by having the summer off and not having to do anything and was relatively stress free. Now we are fully back in the swing of things and I forgot how stressful it can be at times trying to juggle school and life.

Last week I failed the first test of the semester. I have not failed a single test since coming back to school in August of 2013. That so stressed me out. Then, I had to ground my son for the first time ever. He's been lying for some reason for the past couple of months and my talks were not doing him any good. Usually if he gets into any kind of trouble, which he rarely does because he is a very good child, I have taken away electronics here and there. No this time I wanted him to learn a lesson so he was grounded for three days. No tv, no nothing. It killed me to have to do it and he was so very mad at me. So that was very stressful. Then at 4am this morning, I discovered that my dog has fleas and they are in my house including my bedroom!!! Oh, and I saw a mouse in my house the other night!!! I live in the country and so it's not that uncommon, but I saw him come out from under my stove, realize what he did and he ran back under. I about had a heart attack!!!

So needless to say, I have been under a super amount of stress lately. It's par for the course in nursing school to have everything go wrong at once!!! I had just forgotten about it over the summer. I think I spent about $300 on stuff to get rid of these fleas today off of my dog and out of my house. Plus, all of my bedding was ripped off and washed in the sanitize cycle. My dog got and hour flea bath tonight which he hates baths period. I fogged the garage which is like his own dang house. I don't park my car in there and it's heated an air conditioned. I had to throw out his bedding, his food and water bowls, and his collar and leash. So after I bathed him tonight, I went around to my garage and put all of his nice new stuff in his house and set it all up for him. I open the door to find that he promptly rolled around in the mud!!! He was covered head to toe in mud!! I had even combed him and brushed him and made him all pretty again, I was so mad!!! So, had to rewash him because what if new fleas had gotten on him? Tomorrow, I am putting that Frontline medicine on him, which is also super expensive.

And did I also mention, I am apparently getting sued for $52? They served me last week. I mailed them a check and it's a long story but I have never been sued before and it's for $52. I forgot to pay my son's school fees for last year. I always have paid before, but the end of last semester was crazy and I forgot. I have already paid for this year and mailed a check out for last year, but I guess not in time. So I was freaking out about that. It's being taken care of and they received my check, it was just stressful at the time with everything else.

So, I started crafting again this past month. I'm making all of my own fall decorations and they are coming out really cool. It makes me happy and chills me out. I'm also getting requests from friends to make stuff for them. I'm sitting here right now sipping a glass of wine and waiting for my paint to dry. It's total bliss for me!!! :)

What do you guys do when life and school get super stressful?

[cracklingkraken, ASN, RN]

Dear goodness, Heather. It sounds like life is taking you for a spin.

Movies are my go-to for stress. Immersing myself in a good plot always drowns out the woes of life for a bit. A outing with friends helps, too. Especially if there are adult beverages.

[nlitened]

When it rains it pours...as they say;) But you seem to be handling it all well. Thank goodness for crafting!

For me, when I am feeling stressed I just drop what I'm doing and take the night off. No school stuff, no worrying, no nothing. Just me taking care of me. And it can be something as small as painting my toenails, but it does so much good. Sometimes taking a time out from life is truly what you need, and that is great that crafting does that for you.

I had a patient crash on me in ICU today. Tonight is an ice cream night!! The care plan can wait:yes:

[cupcakeluver]

Heather.....what's up with failing our first test ever? I failed my first test ever this semester as well. I've been extremely worried about it. I've even made a thread. I know it had to be hard for you too. It does make me feel a little better that a smart capable person has had a rough go of it as well. I've read many of your posts and I know you're a good student.

My kids have been acting out as well. Sometimes I wonder if it's because I'm gone so much and studying all the time. I don't blame you for breaking out the big guns on the lying. You have to teach your kids right.

My stress relief is focusing on the countdown until graduation. I'm counting it as 7 months since October is almost here. Yes, it's a little delusional. It makes me feel better though. I hope you've won your battle against the fleas!!