Lydi, it is hard to start anew. You have given up what seemed to you the big stressors but maybe it is deeper than that and starts with getting up of a morning and how you go through the day. Look at what you do, how you react, how you feel, any headaches, muscles aches and pains, frustration starting up, then you stop , think what is happening try to eliminate the feelings of stress.

Because most times we haven't got time to think we have all learned to ignore how our bodies are reacting and stroke, heart attack and other major illness results. So we have to listen to our bodies and adopt measures that will allow us to sleep like a baby and wake refreshed.

Maybe take up something like yoga or tai chi to relax you. If music helps find a relaxation tape you can sit and listen to. You will learn the stress signs. I tend to tighten my grip when I am stressed so I relax my grip, sit down, meditate (or pray) a while and start again. Some people grind their teeth or pull certain muscles tight. It is all about relaxing muscles and learning to slow thoughts until they simply stop.

It is worth a try anyway.

Sue.

Lydia:

I think mediation mantra "God I give you all my worries, please take care of them" every day for 5 mins in the morning might do the trick. let go & let God takes care of things.

Asha

Lydia: along the same lines, Bruce mentioned this weekend that he felt he was sleeping too much. Is consciously trying to stay up until 7pm and up and out of bed at 5am; and yet he still feels this is too much. Mind you, at night he doesn't really fall asleep until I am home from work-around 8:30pm and I wake him at 10pm for pills and it is usually a good half hour before he falls back asleep. But I tried to explain that recovering from stroke, he is now on a different schedule and requires more sleep and rest. He naps about 1 hour almost every day.

You have just come off a huge trip and entering a very stressful time of year. Please take Sue's suggestions seriously and give all of this some thought. Best, Debbie