CoachAlan

(I apologize in advance for the length of this reply. To be honest, I don't even know if this addresses your problem. I hope it helps, anyway.)

I'll tell you, I haven't been sick in more than 3 1/2 years, and I owe it to a lack of stress. I consider myself a low-stress expert.

Take this week for example:

1) I overdrafted my bank account.
2) A close friend lost his job and came to me for money (which I gave him with a cash advance on a credit card).
3) College started back up.
4) I almost broke my thumb trying to fix a margarita machine that fought with me for over three hours.
5) I'm the commissioner of a fantasy football league.
6) I just got rejected by a new lady-friend I've been courting.

Yet I find myself calm right now as I write this... Almost in my "happy place." The reason is because I am learning to live in the present moment. Right now:

1) I'm being paid to type on the TFP about something that interests me.
2) I'm (hopefully) helping someone.
3) The A/C in my apartment is set just where I like it.
4) I have resolution and closure with the aforementioned lady-friend.
5) I don't have a toothache.
6) My head is freshly shaved.

Right now, the present moment, is a beautiful moment. Living in the moment takes practice, but it can be very rewarding. I find it to be a great de-stressor.

As far as calming the voices in yoru head, I'd recommend shooting for resolution. Take the case of my lady-friend, for example. I went on a lunch date with her a week ago and it did not go well. It didn't go badly, I just didn't get a vibe that she was interested. All week I've been wondering/worrying whether she was interested and what the future held.

Then I took matters in to my own hands. I called her, and she didn't answer. I didn't leave a message, but called her again the next day (Wednesday). This time I left a message, asking her to call me. She didn't call back, so I called again today. This time my message was, "Hey. So I guess it didn't work out. Oh well. I wish we'd have met two weeks later than we did, but that's the way it goes. If you feel like some great conversation, give me a call. Otherwise, have a good one."

Boom. Resolved. If she never calls again, fine. If she calls again, that's fine too. And now I don't have to worry my pretty little head about it. It's that way with any conflict I have. I try to resolve it ASAP. Not all things can be resolved right away, like right now it's bugging me that this is post number 287 and I still don't have an avatar, or access to the other boards. But there's nothing I can do about it and I'm confident complaining won't help. So I'm trying (not very successfully) to let it go.

But that's about the only thing outstanding right now that needs resolving. And that's my advice to you: Live in the present moment. Shit that's bugging you, get it resolved where possible.

__________________
"If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go!"
- Mark Twain