BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress

Subject: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 02 May 18 - 06:42 AM

This week has been particularly stressful, and as fast as I get myself back in balance, an individual at a workplace is directing aggressive behaviour (verbally - demanding that I justify why work needs to take as long as it does and the fact that to provide info usually requires pulling to information together, and doing work in th right order to avoid having to incessantly repeat work to get each bit of info o demand... The latest being critisised for having to rollover payroll records into the new tax year)

The upshot was that this morning, before going to another workspace, my body felt wrong, and my heart was racing - I feel more in balance again now, but it was pretty scary,.

Anyone know of any herbal remedies to help control my stress levels.. someone has recommended St John's Wort.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 02 May 18 - 06:49 AM

Try meditation and mindfullness techniques first. It can be as simple as measured breathing.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 May 18 - 06:57 AM

Meditation. I use a very simplified version when required and it works for me. Some call it mindfulness. Luckily I rarely need it nowadays.

Find 10-20 minutes somewhere quiet. Go for 10 at first then build up.
Set a timer and then forget it.
Sit in an upright but relaxed manner
Don't close your eyes or you may go to sleep (Well, I would!)
Before starting let yourself know that you are doing this for yourself and those you care for. May sound daft but doing things for other people is more likely to succeed. And you are doing it for other people - It will make you a better person to them.
Start to breathe slowly and deliberately and, this is the important bit,
Concentrate on breathing.
Try to eliminate other thoughts.
You will fail to do so many times but sooner or later you will be able to eliminate other thoughts and just be mindful of your breathing.

Good luck

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 May 18 - 06:57 AM

Cross posted - Great minds think alike. Not sure what happened to me :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 May 18 - 07:00 AM

St Johns Wort is an antidepressant, not a tranquillizer. It can also be pretty dangerous due to photosensitization - the start of summer is not a good time to try it (I think you're in the Northern Hemisphere?). And it interacts severely with a lot of other drugs you might not have thought of. It works, but don't think of it as a first resort. SSRIs are mostly safer at getting the same results.

More sleep is possibly what you need.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 May 18 - 08:14 AM

SPB I'm so sorry you're under stress like this. But I wonder if in addition to remedying it by meditation, herbal stuff and so on, it would be possible to address directly the cause of this trouble?
Is there not a system in place where you work (I think it's called HR nowadays) which deals with workplace bullying? No co-worker has the right to be aggressively getting at you in this way, it's unacceptable.

When I was a teacher, with many extra responsibilities, I got very stressed at times. I found that a short nap when I got home helped enormously to draw a line under the day I'd had, and I awoke relaxed and ready for my evening. If you could 'zonk out' for say half an hour, it might help your poor brain to recoup.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: mg
Date: 02 May 18 - 02:11 PM

Try grounding..barefoot on grass or beach. Just google it. Lots of water. Check out vitamin c.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Donuel
Date: 02 May 18 - 05:51 PM

Leave room for the knowledge that the body goes through some special gyrations as it adjusts from winter to summer.
Kibitzing is good for the soul. This too shall pass.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 May 18 - 04:42 AM

Sleep is a good idea, but if you are constantly stressed sleep will be of a lower quality. Try avoiding blue light as you near sleep time. PCs, Phones, TV, energy efficient bulbs etc. Tungsten lighting and the radio/music may be better. Taking control of your dreams works, but is a big task, though if you fall asleep with that intention, you may get some benefits. If your recall of dreams is that they are uncomfortable (as a concept) then your work situation is implicated, your dreams are working through scenarios (by proxy). And not solutions because they are seemingly intractable.

Physical exertion is a good stress reliever, and distraction therapy. Think about it, stress induces adrenaline and cortisol (etc) the flight or fight hormones. A sport would give you some reason to use those hormones. It worked for me.
In some of my work years the best way to end the workday was to walk home. And walking to work prepared me for the day. Bus/train would not be the same. Driving only produced stress, it was not as restful - certainly.

As an example my cousin once asked why I hacked at brambles on footpaths. My answer was 1) to keep them clear (tick good citizen) and 2) it relieves stress. He asked if I was stressed. My answer "No I get rid of it by exercising my citizens' rights!". Sort of taking control, in some measure.

Best of luck, but the best solutions are within yourself, not necessarily in a capsule.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 May 18 - 05:01 AM

Yoga,yoga breathing exercises. deep breaths, all reduce stress

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Jos
Date: 03 May 18 - 06:34 AM

If you are lying awake, totally failing to sleep, get up, walk around, make a warm drink, and then go to bed again - it's like 'turning it off and turning it on again'.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Donuel
Date: 03 May 18 - 06:38 AM

The Donald cure for stress- lotsa coffee lots of FOX TV and McDonalds 'food'.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 May 18 - 11:02 AM

HR in my workplace is there only to prevent lawsuits against the institution, they're not there to defend employees from unfair conditions. That has been made clear to a number of us subjected to the conditions SPB presents in the first post. Inappropriate but commonplace responses are overeating and drinking more alcohol. They don't help, just soothe briefly.

If you can anonymously file an ethics complaint, that might help you feel better, hoping someone responds. Take scrupulous notes to show that what you're doing is logical and appropriate.

Find another job, if you're able. Retire if possible. Do things that completely distract you from worrying about work.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: leeneia
Date: 03 May 18 - 01:47 PM

SPB, see if your public library has books on workplace bullying or similar topics. Work up a plan for dealing with this person.

Meanwhile, you don't know that your racing heart had anything to do with the evil co-worker. You were going somewhere else, after all. See a doctor and make sure your heart is okay.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: Thompson
Date: 04 May 18 - 02:52 PM

Is this your boss, SPB, or just a busybody?

If it's a busybody, just wait till the next time they start bothering you and say, "How is this your concern?"

If it's your boss, you can do various things: start keeping records of all orders given and of your work as you do it; go to the union to try to sort out; go to your boss's boss and seek help; if it's a big place seek reposting to a new area - and if none of this works, look for a new job.

Various herbs can be helpful, but be careful of clashes. St John's Wort, for example, traditionally doesn't go well with asthma medicine, and chamomile doesn't go well with asthma. I wouldn't personally use herbs without checking with the doctor.

I hope you sort this out.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 May 18 - 08:06 PM

Get a worry stone. Seriously.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 May 18 - 10:13 AM

worry stone...???

If some bullies worry you.. lob it at 'em...!!!

That sounds like my kind of stress buster...

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 05 May 18 - 10:44 AM

My body is back in balance being away from the stressful environment for 3 days (pre-planned, not as a reaction), plus a day and a half rest after the marathon election day - 61,000+ steps, plus 6 hours on my feet at the count. I'll know next week if everything is calmed down - if not, I have a few choice NLP techniques to apply, or even some mirroring, those for the latter I have to be careful in case reflecting back the behavior is seen as me being aggressive.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: peregrina
Date: 06 May 18 - 08:14 AM

This is a kind of bullying and is more than micro aggression.
I think it's admirable to aim at fixing yourself and handling the stress,
but it's also part of a larger toxic aspect of workplace culture that
the good worker is complicit in the unacceptable working environment
by being encouraged to self-modify to cope with a bad manager.

I am really glad that your body is back in balance. I do hope you can
also get some good advice about neutralizing the situation.
DM me, please, if you wish. I've seen this stuff more than I like to say.

Subject: RE: BS: Help - Remedies for Reducing Stress
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 May 18 - 10:31 AM

Worry Stones can actually help - a kind of do-it-yourself placebo.