How have you replenished yourself when you feel you just cannot deal with any more stress?

Thank you all for responding. Great ideas. It's a personal ongoing journey to comfort and replenish oneself. I am learning to be kinder to me. Need to for survival. Today went for full body massage...heavenly and do feel better.

I like a shower and drink a couple of glasses of water down if I am extra stressed. Going outside for a bit helps too and some gardening. I do a lot of reading of mysteries and biographies. I try to sleep at least 7 hours but I awake several times during the night.

Thank you all for wonderful and helpful responses

Sleeping, reading, especially Margaret Truman's mysteries, gardening and Victoria and Christmas project magazines. Cooking or baking, especially something with cinnamon or chocolate. Opening a small jar of cinnamon and inhaling - it has aromatherapy properties.

Sitting at the dining room window and watching birds, squirrels or the neighbor's cats prowling and monitoring the gardening.

The harder and more challenging method is to convert the stress into an analytical, possibly mathematical or geometric problem, and attempting if not to solve it at least to develop possible solutions.

Music, especially Beethoven, Mozart or Chopin, mandolin or hammered dulcimer, operatic, Christmas, patriotic or Armenian dance music (one piece is so vibrant it's like a shot of adrenaline and changes my mood instantly as I begin to want to dance.)

Another simple way is to get an old gardening catalogue, cut out photos of lovely flowers and mount them in a collage on 8.5 x 11" paper which I use as inserts in 3 ring binders with a plastic protector on front. Every time I pick up a binder, I'm greeted by masses of beautiful flowers. It's like instant relaxation.

Sending cards to friends rather than e-mailing is a calming activity. Just searching for that perfect card is soothing as I look through beautiful cards trying to find a good match.

Visiting gardening websites, especially ones with photos of beautiful chateau, Knot or formal gardens. Villandry and Chenonceau are my favorites.

Hopefully, good sleep, as when I wake up feeling rested, even if it is raining it is a great day for me. On the other hand, when I wake up tired (unrefreshed) there is really nothing that makes me feel refreshed for that day (tired all day). Also, I think eliminating or cutting back on caffeine can help, if you drink caffeinated beverages.

Jen, mostly I go outside. I look at the sky, listen to the birds and if it is night I look for the skunk that tears up our lawn looking for grubs. Doesn't sound like much does it? But it helps me; and I pray. I know that it isn't for everyone but it does help me. I also do meditation and aromatherapy, and I play songs on youtube that make me cry.....and I cry, for myself, for my mom and all the things that have not worked out.....like my marriage. Crying is good, it releases stress and helps you. Nature is good...I love to watch the squirrels! Friends are good to vent on....and babies or small children at the playground help put me back in balance. And more than once I've done the 'Primal Scream' thing....that seems to help too. Please let me know if you want just to vent....I'll listen...Blessings to you, Lindaz