Stress relievers for me… writing anything; just the process feels good. Accomplishing anything, no matter how minor, like washing the dishes. Sunshine. Orgasms. Chocolate. Being around animals. Getting email from my favorite people. Being alone goes without saying for me.

I don’t have stress.

Being alone, but I have to add knitting to that. Sitting quietly and knitting eases my stress. And even better, I’ll not only have the relaxation, I’ll have something I’ve created to show for it!

When stress invades my space during the winter months I enjoy soaking in my hot tub drinking a french martini. During the summer months…it’s a dip in the swimming pool with a tall gin and tonic.

None of those! For me, it’s reading, listening to MY music, and letting it all out to my only therapist: my blog and my readership. Comments from people, whether they agree or disagree, make me feel viable. And anything that costs money is automatically out.

Talking out loud to the person that is causing the stress. The only thing is that person cannot be there to hear me because I say REALLY mean things. Things I would NEVER say out loud to another person no matter how upset I was. After that I am calmer and can reasonably deal with any situation.

A massage is great, but sometimes you just can’t get in when you really need it, soo, a glass of Pinot Noir and staring out the window, listening to my favorite music is a great stress reliever for me and of course a hot bath with candles works too.

A nice big glass of diet coke with a good dose of vodka. And 2 Excedrins. After 5, of course. Before 5, a couple of espressos and the Excedrin. Looks like I have a caffeine problem…. oh well…works for me. Oh yeah and dropping my husband off at the airport is always a good high.

Can I vote for all the above?!?!?! www.myspace.com/othermusings

I vote for sex and chocolate - and TV - in that order - one right after the other. As a teenager I had a horse, and a ride thru the countryside was my big escape. I like to watch something funny on Youtube.

Yes to all of the above and for me, anything (movie, music or book) that makes me Laugh Out Loud. For me, a good long guffaw, belly chuckle or snortle reminds me I am not the butt of God’s joke, rather just part of the punchline. Star-gazing is another one that puts whatever stress I’ve chosen into proper perspective. Immersing myself in the creative process through making anything by hand. Like Edith Ann, a good tantrum has worked occasionally, as has a good cry. What I do no matter what is to make sure that I take at least 5 or more minutes to sit, lay, walk barefoot or dance upon this blessed Earth. This removes stress like nothing else I try.

My latest stress reliever at work is climbing a few flights of stairs. When I’m feeling really tense I duck into the stairwell and descend two or three floors, then I walk back up. Good for the cardiovascular. I also offer to attend really boring meetings, the kind where people drone on forever about incredibly picky details of things I hardly understand. If I can manage to survive the hour without falling asleep, I’m so profoundly bored that whatever was bothering me has receded in my mind.