What Makes You Feel Stressed?

What makes you feel stressed?

The list of things for me has been growing ever longer recently and I've been struggling to deal with it in a constructive way. As much as I may seem in day to day life to appear to love a good moan about things as much as the next person, I actually really don't like to talk about what's going through my head in fear of people deeming it trivial. And I think that's the first time I've really admitted why I don't talk about it. Also, it's quite often the same things over and over that make me stressed and I often feel like a bit of a broken record.

Comparison. I'm in a constant state of panic about not being good enough, whether that's related to jobs, relationships or pretty much anything else. I've almost become skilled in comparing myself to every other person I've come into contact with, in real life or online, and it's really quite damaging.
Jobs. I drive myself insane over my job and career prospects, moaning about being stuck in a rut but lacking the confidence to do anything about it. I'm 23 and still have absolutely no idea what I want to do with myself.
Food. Food is a more recent addition to my list of stresses. After watching Cowspiracy and following a whole load of vegan bloggers/instagrammers I'm in a turbulent state of what I think I should be eating vs foods I actually like vs trying not to let anyone notice I'm having issues with it all. My stomach also seems to have become sensitive to a lot of foods I would once have considered staples - I'm looking at you bread! GIVE. Unfortunately it currently leaves me curled up in a ball of pain... Not cute.
Money. Money is one that's been haunting me for years. As much as I like to sit here and imagine driving my future Porsche Cayenne to the airport to jet off to the Maldives for the 3rd time in a year, I am fairly realistic about what I can and will be able to afford in the future. However it doesn't stop me stressing, as what I can and will be able to afford isn't a great deal. I'm still digging my way out of £3k of debt (don't get a credit card kids), and realising I need to start saving for a house at some point leaves me with very little to play with. I've got so many things I want to do and places I want to see and it just doesn't seem possible as well as saving for a future. Jesus, how old do I sound?

There's lots of other little things that pass day to day, but the bulk of my stress comes from what I've listed above. I haven't been dealing very well with any of it when it creeps up on me... Think waking up each morning with a wave of anxiety and having to calm yourself down before starting your day, having an emotional breakdown watching Confessions of a Shopaholic (I got really upset when she got outed on that TV show ok?) and throwing a massive teenage style tantrum when there's no vegetables in the fridge.

I've been trying to find ways to not necessarily fix everything I've got going on in my head (that's asking a lot) but to just let me forget about it, or to be able to think clearly and put things into perspective or to come at things in a constructive manner.
A few things have helped - actively trying to think positively (difficult. I am not a naturally positive person), reading (LOVE an autobiography), talking to people (again difficult, hate coming across as such a whiny little bitch)... but nothing has helped as much recently as exercise. In the strangest way, pushing myself to my absolute limits does great things for my head that I never thought it would.
I've been setting myself goals to get to the gym, swimming pool or to go for a run everyday. It started for health reasons (and because I developed an absolute obsession with all the strong girls on Instagram) but also because it helps get my head back in line - even if it's only for the evening.

What makes you feel stressed and what have you found to help the most? Has anyone else found that exercise has been the biggest help in clearing your head and if so what's your favourite thing to do?


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