What's Your Stress Reliever?

Nurses Stress 101

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Hi Everyone! Just got back on again to this wonderful website. I've moved around and have found myself working in a new environment. Anywho, this forum struck me because as we all know, all people go through stress a lot of times...and we, NURSES, are sure ain't exempted from it! We've all had day and night shifts wherein all we want to do is crawl back into bed and pass out till kingdom come...

So my question is, what is your go-to stress reliever? The thing or activity that you do to make yourself feel better.

I'd love to hear what you guys have to say for I am sure a lot of people can benefit from it :) I'll start...

Mine is SHOPPING :D I love to go shopping after a night shift (makes you buy unnecessary things or things you would normally think about...but only this time, you have less capacity to think so you buy impulsively, which is fun!) I either go to the mall or go online shopping :yeah:

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Like you, ibinezz, I like to have my share of external and materialistic types of gratifaction. These methods can decrease stress through diversional activities.

I used to do contact sports to help relieve my stress. But that got old. Oh sure- I tore tendons and fractured bones- and that kept my mind off of things. But it really happened for me when I got into bungee jumping.

Jumping off a high bridge face-first, falling speedily toward the unknown, as the wind whistles past my ears and death could be seconds away really relieves my stress!

Afterwards, I sit and reflect on my life and existence in general, while I drink a beer and smoke a cigarette. But I gotta give those things up- they could kill me!

Dave

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

Reading a good paranormal romance is a good stress reliever for me. Also crochetting and learning to knit.

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Pumping iron, punching heavy bags, working out six days out of the week for an hour but with high intensity and non stop.... and using four letter words with my friends as a cussing switch to let all the steam out since being polite all the time as a nurse does cause an anger build up.. and you get it out of your system before going to work.

On days offs I like to party and dress really nice and flirt with all the girls at the club.. lol.

But yeah.. Pumping iron an hitting a heavy bag.. as a rehab nurse, you deal with a lot of crap from alert/oriented patients who just seem to treat nurses like crap.. But no matter what you have to maintain bedside manner and professionalism.

Knowing that you can punch pretty hard but walking away when patients give you attitude you think in your head to aggressive patients "i'm doing you a favor by walking away and letting you do what you do"

I'm also thinking of going to the shooting range.. You can't shoot patients or physicians, but shooting things with a gun is pretty fun from what I heard lol

Nursing's a good job but you gotta have that way to let things out and destress

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Specializes in Tele/PCU/MedSurg/Travel.

I just recently started taking a yoga class. So far, I think it's going to be a big help in managing my stress. Running helps, too, when my legs aren't too achy from work :)

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Specializes in ICU, Postpartum, Onc, PACU.

I love grocery shopping....the bright clean produce section just thrills my soul. Then there's reading and playing the piano.

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Specializes in ABMT.

I have the good fortune to live close enough to work that I can bike there. Riding my bike home in the morning, after a rough night, I sure am grateful to be alive. After one particularly horrific night, I was grateful for the cold rain on my way home--at least I wasn't half-dead in the bed. Like riding to work, love the ride home.

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Horseback riding and dance. I love going on a trail ride in the morning, takes any stress right away.

Love dance classes, dance is great exercise and I love learning new dance routines.

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I have a collection of Yoga, Bellydance instruction, and Bollywood dance instruction DVDs. Works like a charm.

sometimes I eat too many cookies to cope...very, very, bad and I have gained 20 pounds in 6 months. So, it's time to find another job. I work at Job Corps as a residential advisor the lowest on the totem pole and I hope to get a home health PSS job.

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Flowerpower, I just added Hot Hula to my collection from Anna Rita Sloss.

I can't wait to try it!

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Flowerpower, I just added Hot Hula to my collection from Anna Rita Sloss.

I can't wait to try it!

That sounds like one to add to my stack! :up:

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That sounds like one to add to my stack! :up:

Check out Real Hula for authentic hula lessons. Very well done!

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