How do you handle stress?

[crwstar]

Hi everyone, I tried to do a search for this just in case the question had already been asked and didn't find anything.

With your tumor or tumors do you find that you don't handle stress as well as you'd like. I can be a pretty high strung person and don't handle stress well at all. Even if I meditate and do all the things suggested I find that I can easily go into overdrive. Do any of you find this to be the case for you as well and have you found that its related to something with your pituitary tumor or any kind of brain tumor for that matter. How has your doctor helped you handle stress better? Thru medication or other methods?

Would appreciate any input.

Crwstar

[kayla4brains]

This is an interersting read for me because I was so young when I was diagnosed that I never knew if I was a naturally stessed out person or if it was my out of balance hormones! I tend to feel like the "real" me is patient and relaxed, but I do get out-of whacked emotional if I don't get enough sleep, I don't do well late at night, like horselip, I increase my cortisol for anticipated stressful situations.

For me, it takes a lot of preventive care and knowing myself and my body.  If that means not staying out late if I know I have to be up early the next day (which most people my age can do) than that's the way it has to be.  It also means not pushing myself too far.  I used to try to exercise when I knew I was feeling under the weather, and I'd end up getting very sick.  Now I give myself time to rest as well.
On the other side, I also make time to exercise and take care of my body! That is a

HUGE stress reducer when I am feeling well! I love yoga, running, swimming, etc... It gives me more energy over the long term.
Journaling is a good tool too.

Really, just take care of yourself.  It took me a looooong time to learn that.

[horselip]

I used to live in a city too. Sometimes I miss the action. We moved for other reasons besides me being stressed out, although that was def part of why we are here

One downside is that I have to travel to California three times a year to see my neuroendocrinologist. Luckily my parents, many friends etc live in the same area so I make the trips fun and get to have a good urban fix. I always come back home exhausted, but smiling. After a week or two of rest I'm fine.
Horselip

[crwstar]

I have pretty good sources for talking with people but have not been as active in accessing this. I found that in the beginning of my diagnosis that I sought out a practitioner of some sort on a monthly basis just to get out what was going on with me and may start that back up again because it was very helpful.

Wow, horselip, I love the idea of moving out somewhere where stress is seriously reduced. Hawaii is the place for that for sure!!! I've often thought that if I can just get out of the city that I'd be doing a lot better.....may have to give that some more thought.

I don't think I was as high stress as I am now. Something has changed and I think its a combination of hormonal changes and a need to gain different coping skills.

Hopefully, you will find out what's going on with the flushing, North48. I have horrible nightsweats and have had the hot flashes but don't think I've had the flushing.

Thanks everyone!!

[North48]

I've been thinking about this for a few days now and still I'm not sure how to answer this.

The doctors wanted me to do some talk therapy but I haven't really done any because I have always thought I handled stress well and feel that I still do.I don't think anything really changed with how I handle stress since the pit tumor was discovered.

However, it seems that the stress button gets pushed more then it did before.

I've been having some flushing going on so I'm trying to figure out what the triggers are (stress?).

[horselip]

Hi-
We are all different. Were you high strung before you had pituitary probs? I wasn't before but I am much more sensitive to stress nowadays. I no longer have a a pit tumor but I have no pituitary function so I have to replace all of the hormones.

For me the most important thing to handle stress has been to get the dosing of my hormones the best that I can. Also it really helps if I get enough sleep.

The other thing that I've done is to minimize the things that stress me out that I can control like ultra needy former friends and lots of drama. I also try to pace myself and live the mellow life. The hubby and I moved to a rural place in Hawaii so it is tranquil and quiet here.

I have to take hrdrocortisone now. I've worked closely with my doctor to get my usual daily dose as low as possible (15 mg). But I do have leeway to adjust my dose upwards by 2.5-5mg, if I need to. For example I sometimes need to take a little extra  for things that might be draining like travelling, a really busy day or some sort of ultra social thing,

Also when I was first diagnosed I saw a psychiatrist who helped me to develop my coping skills and was a good venting board when things were very bad for me.

Horselip

[rumpled]

I find that no, I do not but that I think is the hormones that do not allow control.

I have in the past taken the meds, but disliked the side effects. I used to see counseling, and probably will return soon.