Comments on: Let’s Talk Workshops

By: John Colvin

John Colvin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:17:20 +0000

I’m really glad that you’re willing to tell people that you’re seeking counseling. I’m not sure that you ever told me outright, but you hinted at enough that I knew already.

I think a lot of analytical people (i.e. engineers) have an issue with doing things that have no traditional, easily identifiable purpose. The mindfulness activity doesn’t earn you money, save you time or have a measurable result. I don’t think you have the problem to the degree that others do, I have met some people that don’t seem to put any value in the arts. I would suggest reevaluating why things are important to you. Maybe an activity that helps you relax and know yourself better is worth doing, but it’s possible that the mindfulness activity isn’t that activity.

I don’t really stress out very much. Actually, my dentist asks me if I lead a stressful life because I grind my teeth in my sleep. (I have to wear a bite guard or my teeth would turn into little nubs) So, maybe I’ve managed to push my stress into my unconscious mind.

I find that it’s best to do an activity that distracts the analytical part of my brain. My brain seems to run in overdrive a lot, I always have some type of distraction while I work (TV, music, something…I swear I’ve watched the entire Scrubs series 10 while doing homework). I find that exercise allows me to veg out. While I’m running, I may be working hard physically, but my brain is very relaxed. Like Elise mentioned, laying in the grass and reading is about the best thing ever. Reading helps me relax, too. Instead of attempting to turn off my brain, reading forces my brain to focus in the topic at hand. It’s like gate control theory.

Elise – going places and taking pictures of cool things is so much fun. I haven’t done that in a long time.

By: Thoughts of an Eaten Sun » Mental Skills

Thoughts of an Eaten Sun » Mental Skills — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:24:34 +0000

[...] I mentioned in my Let’s Talk Workshops post, I have been doing two workshops related to stress management. I am interested in these [...]

By: Elise

Elise — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:29:20 +0000

I think that people making you laugh or smile is a good example of something you could keep track of, although I have to wonder… if you are attempting to keep track of that does it take away from the carefree enjoyment? Does that make sense… maybe it doesn’t…. Anyways, I’ll tell you things that me smile: puppies, squirrels, new leaves budding on trees, people jogging who run funny with their arms up like a T-rex, finding the sleeping person in almost any long lecture and watching their head bounce up every few minutes when they realize they’re asleep, etc.
I’m not quite sure what the point is of that body scan thing, so I don’t blame you for not doing it all the time. If I was supposed to focus on parts of my body I think I would end up more depressed thinking about how displeased I am with my physical self, but that’s just me bringing myself down.
I manage stress in a number of ways. When I’m really stressed out, the first thing I do is make a list of things I need to get done; I get organized! Another thing I like to do is cook, it relaxes me and makes me feel good about myself. I like to go on walks, to go places alone. Lately I’ve felt like I never get any time to myself, it’s like if I do something without inviting half of my friends to come with me I’m a bad person, and I hate that! Sometimes it’s nice to just do something alone, go to the park and walk around, bring my camera and take some cool shots of things, stuff like that. Now that it’s nice outside it’s always fun to take a blanket and lay in the grass and read. If I’m really stressed out I do yoga. I used to do yoga every night, I should probably start doing that again…
Anyways, I don’t know how much any of that helps, but hopefully you aren’t really that stressed out! Just think about your awesome backpacking trip to Europe and there is no way you will still feel super stressed or depressed! :-)

By: Jeff Dillaman

Jeff Dillaman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:02:02 +0000

I just typed up a response and it deleted it, son of a bitch.

Basically I said that the meditation stuff is bullshit. The whole role of it is to take your mind off the stressful things in your life and to focus your entire mind on something simple and rhythmic, like breathing. Stuff like that has never worked for me, I guess my brain is too active.

I’ve been in kind of an existential funk lately, so my solution I am pursuing is to turn to philosophy for the answers. Educate myself on what others have spent their lives to perfect, then create my own philosophy and direction for my life. My plan is to work through Descartes, Nietzsche, Hegel, Heidegger, etc. We’ll see how that goes. Even just a long philosophical discussion with my friend has made me feel much better and given me a better outlook on life.

Other than that, when I’m stressed I just do things I enjoy. I’ll have an ice cold beer, listen to music on my headphones, hookah, play DOTA…just things that make me feel comfortable and I enjoy.

By: Jeff Dillaman

Jeff Dillaman — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:58:01 +0000

Sounds like those classes are bullshit. Really, the only effect I can see from that stuff is just taking your mind off of the stressful elements to focus on something simple and rhythmic, like breathing. It may work for some people, but it never really does anything for me.

I pretty much just wade through the shitty days, knowing that it’ll get better the next. I’m sort of in an existential funk right now, so I’m attempting to utilize philosophy to improve my general outlook on life and give me direction for the future. I haven’t even had time to start, but just having a long talk with my friend about it helped a lot.

I guess if I really need to relieve stress and have a bit of time, I just do things that are “comfort” actions. I’ll grab a cold beer, maybe play some DOTA, maybe put on some headphones and just lie down and listen to music. Nothing special.