Okay, I know this is just plain wrong, but I love to veg out in front of some trashy TV. Like "Pawn Stars" or "Hoarders" or "Worst Cooks in America." Or middlebrow trashy like "Game of Thrones," with which I am currently obsessed.

I know that' not fashionable but it works pretty well for me.

And a lot of exercise.

Diane, I'm so sorry to hear that you're feeling anxious. I'm so glad to see so many great suggestions. I know you said that exercise isn't an option right now but when your rib heals, I would suggest finding something fun and active to do. I like walking someplace pretty, and I also really love my spin classes at the club, which are very intense. Also, I don't know if you have access to a sauna or steam room, but I find a few minutes of either very relaxing. Or a hot bath. There's something about an intense sensory experience that derails negative loops in my brain.

Diane I hope you find away around your stress. I am easily overstimulated and overwhelmed. I do yoga, long walks, baths and sometimes wine. My best stress reliever is sleep. It's a total escape. I also become a hermit when I have too much on my plate, and like to stay home and "putter" on the weekends. I pray often, reading my favorite Christian bloggers and digging into the Bible. It really helps to know my life is in God's hands and to be able to release my burdens to Him.

When I am stressed, I plan very simple family meals that can be made quickly, or even be put together by the kids themselves.

I love to light beautiful scented candles (the really special expensive ones!) or a fire as long as it's below 60 farenheit. Somehow fire just mesmerizes and relaxes my mind.

For me, exercise and fresh air. This translates to long walks with dogs and friends and their dogs (and tangled leashes!), and gardening. To be pleasantly fatigued at the end of the day really helps me sleep. I've also found wine to be counterproductive. It seems relaxing, but it actually disturbs my sleep. And having a really good night's sleep is probably the most important thing for reducing stress.

I love all these ideas! I'm taking notes.

One thing that helps me a lot but doesn't tend to show up on lists like these is drinking plenty of water. I get very crabby and stressed out when I haven't been drinking enough. I started filling a pitcher on the counter to gauge how much I'm drinking in a day. My motivation for that had nothing to do with stress relief but I've noticed I cope much better with life when I get that pitcher empty by the end of the day.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but Bowen Therapy is amazing. I have had a few sessions due to back pain but I found it so relaxing I am planning to do it regularly. Completely changed my day.

Exercise (must be outside -- fresh air is clearly a component of the stress-reduction), laughing, wine, deep breathing. To achieve the laughing, need visits with friends and hubby. Kids. Funny movies. Trying new things.

Have you tried therapy? I have. One of the best decisions I ever made. A good therapist can do wonders for anxiety. You don't need to go forever -- seven or eight sessions will usually do it, I think.

I did require anti-depressants one time. I didn't recover from the birth of my second child properly. I didn't really want to take anti-depressants, but I was the poster child for post-natal anxiety/depression, and was willing to try anything. They worked. Medication gets a hard rap. Sometimes, anxiety is caused by something chemical that's not going right in your brain, and medication (+ talk therapy) can often solve it.

Thanks for some more great ideas ladies.

Mary, I'm a big fan of just vegging in front of mindless tv, I do find it helps me. I just wish I was such a big fan of exercise

I am finding that a long soak is helping, Marmee, sadly no steam room, but I do pop lavender in the water.

I am tempted a little by yoga Karymk, and also I do like an occasional wine... You and a few others mention sleep though and I absolutely agree that I really need to get a good nights sleep. I simply can't function and feel overwhelmed when tired.

Thanks JAileen, another vote for sleep and exercise.

qfbrenda, I agree, I think water is very important. I like the idea of filling up a big jug in the morning and getting through it by day's end.

I'll look into that Deb, thanks.

Thanks Aziraphale, I haven't ever tried therapy, but I have to say that I do already take a very low dose antidepressant and have done for some time. I take the lowest dose at bedtime and it gives me a good nights sleep most nights. I have come off it from time to time, but I often have to go back on in Winter for SAD. I do find also that it really helps against hot flashes for the dreaded menopause.

Diane, that's why I took the antidepressant -- to solve my spiralling-out-of-control insomnia. It really helped. If I ever need to take it again, I won't be so reticent. It's impossible to function if you can't sleep, so I'm glad you have that under control.

Diane, I'm sorry you're dealing with stress problems and BP. But glad to see SOOO many great suggestions (especially around playing with our pets!! It's something that has always helped me too!).

I grew up thinking BP problems were hereditary -- my Dad struggled to control his using meds. When I was grinding my teeth and battling high stress at work,( in the form of supervisors who I think felt deeply threatened by women in the workplace), I was put on medications, and I hated how they affected my approach to life. I think that in itself stressed me too!

I eventually got fed up when I was planning a vacation and my meds were going to run out mid-trip, and when I tried to get a refill I was refused. I resolved to figure out what was really going to address my health issues, and wound up finding a clinical nutritionist who practiced homeopathy. Working with this woman, I learned that a lot of the BP problem was from my (supposedly healthy) diet. My body was reacting to some of the foods I ate by upping my heart rate and constricting blood vessels and so on. I changed how I ate a lot. And my readings normalized, enough that I was able to get off of the medications (and also amazed my young MD!) I had always had "white coat" issues, too.

I'm not saying this dissolved all of my stress. But it sure did make a real difference for me, in how I felt about life and stress. I definitely agree with all of the other strategies here. And whatever gets you real, genuine rest and erasure of the actual stressors, even briefly, is important to use.

I think also that folks like me (and you) who go full-tilt and then drop from exhaustion, we need to school ourselves sometimes, rely on the loving advice of our DHs and such, and take breaks from the GOOD things, as well as from the bad stressors. That's probably where practices like meditation help, in allowing "good enough" to be good enough. Oh, and NOT letting the "wasting time" thoughts to win.

I'm gonna add lots of the previously-mentioned strategies to my bag of tricks, too!!

I know you say you aren't a big fan of exercise so how about just walking. Just take a stroll. Don't make it about fitness. A good walk just clears your mind. I even walk in the rain, with the dog if she is willing.

I also meditate. I close my bedroom door and listen to Pandora meditation music. I also use aromatherapy. I have an ultrasonic diffuser I got at Sharper Image and diffuse lavender essential oit. It really calms me. You don't need a diffuser for this, you could just put a few drops on a cotton ball in a dish near you.

Yoga is also great. You can be the basic Hatha moves once you are given the ok after your ribs heal. Something about doing gentle stretches really calms the body, plus yoga focuses on breathing. Belly breathing done properly can lower your bp. Of course, once your ribs heal.

Hope that helps.

Hi Diane, so sorry to hear you're dealing with stress and anxiety. I understand because I've been having a stressful time lately too. Things that help... church helps, so I go several times a week. Walking my dog. Walking on the beach when I can. Going out for lunch or even just coffee with DD or a trusted colleague. And making a spreadsheet. I forget to do this but if things are tough at work it will all melt away if I make a new spreadsheet. Oh, also, sporting events on TV. I know that not all of this will be everybody's cup of tea but if we all report what works for us at least some of the time, maybe you can zero in on what works for you!

ps I do yoga but don't find it that relaxing. What yoga does do for me is rid me of stubborn neck and shoulder pain so that's good too.

Linda, my mum has always had BP problems, but as you say, I guess it doesn't have to be hereditary. I can do a lot to help myself. The medication I'm on is just a diuretic that basically reduces blood volume and therefore BP. Nothing comes without side effects though eh? I found your story very interesting, thanks for sharing. With the news full of suggestions to up our veg intake further, I have made a big effort this week to look at my diet too.

Lara, I like your thinking about the walks not being for fitness. Actually, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, I like Anna's idea of taking photos. I really want to re-kindle my love of photography. Would I find Pandoras meditation music on Youtube?, I'd better have a look. I love lavender oil too and I have used it twice in baths this week already.

Thankyou, yes Adelfa, all suggestions gratefully received. In fact, funny you should mention spreadsheets as I signed up yesterday to Evernote as a way of keeping track of thoughts and lists so that I don't worry about bits of paper going astray and to try not to keep remembering so much stuff. Great minds think alike eh?

Diane, can't wait to hear how evernote works for you!

A great thread, and I hope it's helping Diane.

Here are my anti-stress strategies:

• Pets (the most therapeutic of all)
• A great cup of tea with cake
• Flow Yoga
• Cooking
• 2 showers a day
• No computer work after 8pm
• Relax in front of the tele with a compelling TV show in the evenings with Greg. (Must be compelling though - I cannot watch "what is trash to me").

Wishing you well, Diane. xo