4 ms·

Stress is the cause for many illnesses, yes.

hirvi74 3y ago
For the 30 years I have walked this Earth, I have never been able to find a "healthy" way to manage stress. In fact, I have had such bad problems with stress that it basically assisted in the emergence and continuation of an autoimmune disorder. So, I am quite aware of the damage stress can cause. I have used plenty of unhealthy methods of managing stress, but the sad fact of the matter is that -- unlike yoga, warm baths, etc. -- the unhealthy methods actually work, and they tend to work really well.
- hydrok9 3y ago
  where does your stress primarily come from?
  - hirvi74 3y ago
    Not trying to create a pity-party or be all woeful, but to answer your question: My source of stress is highly contextual, but fundamentally the common denominator would be a sense of insecurity. I feel a sense of financial stress due to not being financially secure. I have taken proper measures to ensure I am on the proper path to financial security, but it seems like one job loss, one major medical emergency, major market crash, etc., is all it takes to wipe it all out. Not to mention all the rising costs of everything too. I have occupational stresses (software engineer) due to my incompetence, lack of useful/meaningful skills, poor knowledge of fundamentals (my comp sci program was so poor that we almost lost our accreditation), etc.. I've basically been a junior developer for the last 7 years. Couple all that with my various issues, and yeah, I live in a perpetual state of stress and anxiety which creates a not so wonderful negative-feedback loop. I've tried therapy, psychiatry, etc., but any solution is like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. So, when nothing else works, all I have left is escapism. Luckily, I do not have an issue with any hard substances. However, one of my biggest crutches and forms of escapism are video games. The sad reality of why they are so appealing to me is that these games create a world that is more appealing than the current one I live. In the real world, I have no meaningful accomplishments, nothing to be proud of, etc.. In games, goals and objectives are clearly laid out, easily obtainable, and if I fail to achieve something I know that I am the sole reason -- not some variable out of my control (no office politics or BS). I have a chance to not be below-average for once, and when I manage to accomplish something, it creates a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that I cannot find in the "real world." When playing competitive games, my contributions actually matter, and if I do well, my teammates express a genuine sense of appreciation and gratitude. They relied on me, and I pulled my weight/extra-weight. It sometimes feels so good. I know it is all just a false sense of well-being, for any sense of accomplishment I feel is quickly fleeting. At the end of the day, when I turn the games off, what am I left with? I didn't really accomplish anything tangible -- no real skills -- and in the real world, none of it matters one bit. It seems that I have managed to lose the ability to put forth any effort in bettering myself, and I am just in some kind of going with motions and distracting myself anyway I can. So yeah, sorry for my long ramblings, but it felt good to get it out.
    - hydrok9 3y ago
      Sounds a lot like me. Its a cycle that only you can break. medication might be needed, exercise is mandatory. Computers are overstimulating and you feel empty after because the people you tried to connect with and build things with are gone and were never really there. You sound desperate for someone else to validate you just like I was. Do whatever it takes, don't end up like me and ruin a bunch of your health and relationship with it.
      - hirvi74 3y ago
        I appreciate your reply and advice. I am not completely opposed to medication, for I am already medicated for ADHD, which like most substances, has diminishing returns the longer one uses it. Treatment has never really worked great for me, and I do not have hopes for anything else psychiatry has to offer at this point. I tried some kind of SNRI prior to ADHD treatment, and I swore I would never touch anything S*RI ever again. If anything, I think I would benefit from a change in environments. A new job, new hobbies, etc.. It's just so difficult trying to do anything to better myself. I've tried exercising, hell there is a gym walking distance from me, and I cannot seem to maintain any kind of routine. Needing validation is probably spot on. I think a lot of it stems from growing up with untreated ADHD. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 22 to put things into perspective. My whole life I have had to second-guess everything I did because I learned I could not trust myself to do things correctly. That and the treatment from others basically eroded all sense of self-esteem I ever had.

For the 30 years I have walked this Earth, I have never been able to find a "healthy" way to manage stress. In fact, I have had such bad problems with stress that it basically assisted in the emergence and continuation of an autoimmune disorder. So, I am quite aware of the damage stress can cause. I have used plenty of unhealthy methods of managing stress, but the sad fact of the matter is that -- unlike yoga, warm baths, etc. -- the unhealthy methods actually work, and they tend to work really well.

hydrok9 3y ago
where does your stress primarily come from?
- hirvi74 3y ago
  Not trying to create a pity-party or be all woeful, but to answer your question: My source of stress is highly contextual, but fundamentally the common denominator would be a sense of insecurity. I feel a sense of financial stress due to not being financially secure. I have taken proper measures to ensure I am on the proper path to financial security, but it seems like one job loss, one major medical emergency, major market crash, etc., is all it takes to wipe it all out. Not to mention all the rising costs of everything too. I have occupational stresses (software engineer) due to my incompetence, lack of useful/meaningful skills, poor knowledge of fundamentals (my comp sci program was so poor that we almost lost our accreditation), etc.. I've basically been a junior developer for the last 7 years. Couple all that with my various issues, and yeah, I live in a perpetual state of stress and anxiety which creates a not so wonderful negative-feedback loop. I've tried therapy, psychiatry, etc., but any solution is like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. So, when nothing else works, all I have left is escapism. Luckily, I do not have an issue with any hard substances. However, one of my biggest crutches and forms of escapism are video games. The sad reality of why they are so appealing to me is that these games create a world that is more appealing than the current one I live. In the real world, I have no meaningful accomplishments, nothing to be proud of, etc.. In games, goals and objectives are clearly laid out, easily obtainable, and if I fail to achieve something I know that I am the sole reason -- not some variable out of my control (no office politics or BS). I have a chance to not be below-average for once, and when I manage to accomplish something, it creates a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that I cannot find in the "real world." When playing competitive games, my contributions actually matter, and if I do well, my teammates express a genuine sense of appreciation and gratitude. They relied on me, and I pulled my weight/extra-weight. It sometimes feels so good. I know it is all just a false sense of well-being, for any sense of accomplishment I feel is quickly fleeting. At the end of the day, when I turn the games off, what am I left with? I didn't really accomplish anything tangible -- no real skills -- and in the real world, none of it matters one bit. It seems that I have managed to lose the ability to put forth any effort in bettering myself, and I am just in some kind of going with motions and distracting myself anyway I can. So yeah, sorry for my long ramblings, but it felt good to get it out.
  - hydrok9 3y ago
    Sounds a lot like me. Its a cycle that only you can break. medication might be needed, exercise is mandatory. Computers are overstimulating and you feel empty after because the people you tried to connect with and build things with are gone and were never really there. You sound desperate for someone else to validate you just like I was. Do whatever it takes, don't end up like me and ruin a bunch of your health and relationship with it.
    - hirvi74 3y ago
      I appreciate your reply and advice. I am not completely opposed to medication, for I am already medicated for ADHD, which like most substances, has diminishing returns the longer one uses it. Treatment has never really worked great for me, and I do not have hopes for anything else psychiatry has to offer at this point. I tried some kind of SNRI prior to ADHD treatment, and I swore I would never touch anything S*RI ever again. If anything, I think I would benefit from a change in environments. A new job, new hobbies, etc.. It's just so difficult trying to do anything to better myself. I've tried exercising, hell there is a gym walking distance from me, and I cannot seem to maintain any kind of routine. Needing validation is probably spot on. I think a lot of it stems from growing up with untreated ADHD. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 22 to put things into perspective. My whole life I have had to second-guess everything I did because I learned I could not trust myself to do things correctly. That and the treatment from others basically eroded all sense of self-esteem I ever had.