Dealing with physical stress as apposed to mental.

[lendaddy]

I didn't want to mix this in with my other post but I would appreciate some help on this related matter.

I have always dealt with stress well and I don't freeze up or "lose it" or anything like that, I stay calm and rational. For instance I don't mind that I think about it all the time and I don't lay in bed wishing I could just escape the thoughts or anything like that. I'm not trying to be judgmental of those that do have mental side effects, just describing my situation.

That being said I am now having what I believe are actual physical side effects to my stress. My joints and ligaments ache, I would relate it to arthritis type pain. If any of you have ever had tendinitis, that's what this feels like....but everywhere (hands, elbows, knees, feet, etc). It feels like they need to be stretched out but doing so does not help.

Is this common? Any remedies? Irish Whiskey helps but I don't think this is a great time in my life to become a professional alcoholic and anyway I want to retain my amateur status in case they ever make it an Olympic event.

Thanks again guys.

[legion]

Do you exercise at all? If not, some sort of exercise routine may help.

Also, even if you don't feel you need it, it might not be a bad idea to give yourself a "mental" break from life's stresses.

I combine the two. I go to the gym and let my mind wander about building my dream car or doing things to the hot chick on the treadmill in front of me...

[peppy]

Your sense of humor will help. Try getting away for a couple of days (I know that it is hard). I worked 7 days a week 12-14 hours a day for 4 years trying to save my business, only off Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I lost 60 pounds and felt like crap.

Hang in there!

[stomachmonkey]

Sex. Seriously. My doc recommended it after a severe bout of stress induced PCV's.

I get lots of bizarre physical manifestations when I get stressed.

A common one for me affects the boys, feels like someone clamped a vice grip onto one and is hanging from it doing the twist. Pain radiates in a straight line up into my abdomen and down to my thigh.

Hate that one.

[Mr_Wizard]

+1 on the exercise. I am currently working 14-16 hrs a day 7 days a week (will be doing this till Feb 08) I go to the gym every day for an hour. Works wonders to relieve the stress of the day.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Sex. Seriously. My doc recommended it after a severe bout of stress induced PCV's.

I get lots of bizarre physical manifestations when I get stressed.

A common one for me affects the boys, feels like someone clamped a vice grip onto one and is hanging from it doing the twist. Pain radiates in a straight line up into my abdomen and down to my thigh.

Hate that one.

I'll mention it to the wife

Odd you mention the twins, I have without question been having similar pain there but I associated it to my vas earlier in the year. Weird.

[lendaddy]

I do need to exorcise even if it doesn't help with the stress I should do it.

Thanks guys.

[scottmandue]

What is your diet like?

This may sound crazy (maybe not coming from me) but I was drinking a lot of diet Pepsi for my morning caffeine fix... then I heard the artificial sweeteners can cause joint pain... I was like pffft, yeah right.

I cut out the diet Pepsi and went back to black coffee for my morning buzz and the joint pain went away, go figure.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I'll mention it to the wife

Odd you mention the twins, I have without question been having similar pain there but I associated it to my vas earlier in the year. Weird.

You may have a varicosile, I have one on the right. Painful when it flares up. The stress normally hits the left one. Different pain.

[sjf911]

Pain frequently accompanies stress. Regular exercise, especially weight training helps as does emphasis on adequate sleep. Poor mattress quality can contribute. However, other, potentially serious medical issues can manifest this way as well even side-effects of medication so don't simply dismiss it as "stress", especially if it doesn't respond to conservative management.

[RoninLB]

lapping in a pool stretches and definitely takes your mind away. The biggest obstacle is mental discipline, not physical ability.

3days/week, 1/2hr non stop = home run.

If you say you'll never be able to learn that you need an attitude adjustment.

The best students have no experience swimming or bad swimming habits. It's not a race it's discipline.

Properly applied a newbie can be swimming a mile within 40-50 days starting when you can swim 25 yards across the pool properly.


look for any excuse you want to stay out of the pool.


good luck

[Flatbutt1]

Well Lendaddy I do know something about this. And lately I've been under enormous stress at work, We've had layoffs, closures and more layoffs. Of course we've had to pick up the slack and now we're facing another layoff. I have the aches and pains that seem to come with this.

So I find that increasing my frequency of activity(if not the level of intensity given that I'm 55) helps alot. Bicycling and light weight training helps me work off the mental stress very well. I still havesome sleepless nights and occasionally must force some trains of thought out of my head but the physical output helps. And to your point as I do this my body becomes better conditioned to handling the physical manifestations of my mental stress. I also must keep telling myself that somehow it'll all work out one way or the other and that I'll be OK.

[89911]

I think we all go through this at some point in our life. I am about as low key a guy as you will ever meet (except when watching the Steelers). About a year ago, I starting having pain under my sternum that was very real and very uncomfortable. I am usually very active, although at that time I wasn't. I'm about 6' and 190lbs. I thought for sure I was having some sort of heart related illness. I'm already taking Zocor and my levels are fine. Had a stress test with dye, all negative. Sonogram negative. I have a family history since my dad who is a heavy smoker had bypass surgery at 55. It wasn't untill I was completely cleared and that I was in good shape that my symptoms disappeared. I guess my point is that stress can manifest itself in very real, very precise examples. If you would of told me this before, I would thought you a fool. Since then, I've started running 15 miles a week and have no issues. You need to look beyond you immediate, day to day issues and appreciate the big picture, family, friends, and most of all, a sense of humor ( which I can tell you have!).

[Moneyguy1]

len, I am no stranger to stress. The past five months have tested my serenity. What works for me is a little prayer that calms me down and lets me rest easy:

Let me change the things I can
Let me accept those things I cannot change
And the wisdom to recognize the difference.

(I left out the "Lord" in order not to offend those posters who do not believe in a Creator!!)

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

len, I am no stranger to stress. The past five months have tested my serenity. What works for me is a little prayer that calms me down and lets me rest easy:

Let me change the things I can
Let me accept those things I cannot change
And the wisdom to recognize the difference.

(I left out the "Lord" in order not to offend those posters who do not believe in a Creator!!)

Thanks Bob. Situations like yours are much more serious than mine and I hope your starting to find some happiness. She would want you to be happy, make it so as they say.

[Moneyguy1]

len...

Today was not a good one. I thought it would get easier with time, but there are episodes where the lonliness is crushing. The Holidays will be a very severe test. There is so much I would lke to share with the gang, but I fear that some would dismiss my experiences as being "wishful thinking" or worse!! My thoughts are with you and your Dad. How about finding a nice consumer friendly product to produce sort of like that machine that is used for brush clearing? (D-H I think is the company)

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

len...

Today was not a good one. I thought it would get easier with time, but there are episodes where the lonliness is crushing. The Holidays will be a very severe test. There is so much I would lke to share with the gang, but I fear that some would dismiss my experiences as being "wishful thinking" or worse!! My thoughts are with you and your Dad. How about finding a nice consumer friendly product to produce sort of like that machine that is used for brush clearing? (D-H I think is the company)

I'm not going to pretend to understand what you're going through, but I do know that happiness can be had regardless. The experience is very fresh yet and know that it will get better. I know people that have lost their spouses and were so depressed they couldn't imagine taking the next breath, but a few short years later they have found happiness again. I wish I could be more convincing.

I'm not a very cheesy type of guy but I'll throw this out there because I know for a fact that it works. Smile, think of good memories and smile. Force it if you have to but just do it, trust me.

[Moneyguy1]

Thanks.

Some days are OK. But the nub of the problem seems to be that I have been "visited" a few times and found the experience to be something that canot be explained or described. There is nothing on earth that compares with what I have been allowed to see. Some could think of it as "wishful thinking" but I can assure you that it was as real as I am sitting at the keyboard!!

It has changed my thinking on some things. Perhaps that is why I have not been able to say that anything is impossible., back to the infinite universe with so much we can never understand!!

Think of the possibilities with your company!! Positive thoughts and actions will help so much more than worry.

Cheers!

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Thanks.

Some days are OK. But the nub of the problem seems to be that I have been "visited" a few times and found the experience to be something that canot be explained or described. There is nothing on earth that compares with what I have been allowed to see. Some could think of it as "wishful thinking" but I can assure you that it was as real as I am sitting at the keyboard!!

It has changed my thinking on some things. Perhaps that is why I have not been able to say that anything is impossible., back to the infinite universe with so much we can never understand!!

Think of the possibilities with your company!! Positive thoughts and actions will help so much more than worry.

Cheers!

I've heard of that before and I have a friend that swears up and down on the same thing. It was a different circumstance but he is also convinced. Heck if I know.

But your right on staying positive, just remember to take your own advice

[oldschoollear]

I run about 20 miles a weak, not one iota of joint pain....But as soon as the weather turns cool/cold I feel like the tin man. I see you are in Michigan, does the pain correlate with the onset of winter? Just a thought.