What about creative processes such as sculpture, ceramics, painting, and the like?

I believe some people relax and relieve stress in that way as well.

A very good point, though I kinda was thinking about that in the videogames/tv/movies section... just some sort of leisurely activity that you enjoy... though I suppose some creative outlets aren't entirely "leisurely". :)

counter-strike / unreal tournament (original)

*headshot!

multi-kill!

ultra-kill!

m-m-m-m-monster kill!

GODLIKE

lol

/nerd-mode off

I grab a bat and head off to the local preschool...

Seriously though...

I like to do modeling work. Example here

If someone pisses me off at work, I go into the network closet and ... well, I'll let the animation tell you the story http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9...kisdownbl6.gif
If I bottle it up, it just goes away after a while. For all I know, I could be heading toward a breakdown, but it works at the time.
Shooting and smoking in post, Ron Paul signature. Fits perfectly.

JustJess : :eek:

Abaya : No, bottling it up never helps. It's not like I decide to keep it all in. It just happens. Especially when the situation happens at a point where I don't feel I have anyone to turn to, and just.. talk. I don't talk easily. Because I have trust issues. Working on it though :)

I would love to kill babies sometimes. Like right now.

Alright, that's not true.

Well, sometimes just saying that and cracking myself up with the morbidity of it helps.

i go biking.
it works remarkably well: if you do not focus on what you are doing, and on what's around you, you will likely be killed. it's repetitive and physically demanding and there we are.

i dont think of it as working out, however: i ride as transportation, as leisure activity, as therapy--but i am convinced that if i called the same thing "working out" i wouldnt do it.

I also go biking to blow off steam. Video games, metal and cooking help. I can only watch movies when I'm relaxed. Yelling at people has never helped.

Since I like to think if I'm stressed out or anxious about something I'll just think it over in my head for a bit. Then once I've come to some type of conclusion about it I move on. The few times in my life when I've really felt down or overwhelmed I've found that sitting down and writing something really helps. I think the key is not so much about effective ways to deal with stress as it is with effective ways to put it off for a little bit. For me a small break from life can really help put things in perspective.

Work is my main source of stress. I do my best to leave work behind me once I punch out, but no matter what I do I always have to worry about what I need to do tomorrow. I've found that turning on my Ipod and going for a run is a good way for me to chill out and make a game plan for tomorrow.
Of course, if I don't work the next day, calling up some friends to go out for a few pints works pretty well too.

boxing and grappling.

My biggest stress-release activity: Music. When I'm done with work, if I feel stressed, I pick up my violin and let it all pour out. Evidently it works great because usually when I start I go non-stop for 3-4 hours; when I'm done, I'm usually spent and I fall asleep (sleep happens to be my second favorite stress-release activity).

Third place goes to Counter-Strike/Guitar Hero 1&2/F.E.A.R./etc... Finally, if nothing else fits the moment, I open up WinAmp, set it on random, lay down, and just enjoy my music collection.

The best thing for me is just to go for a hike and sit down next to a river or a cliff and just sit there for a while.

The worst thing for me is music, some of my music just makes me more mad or sad or whatever.

When I'm at work and pissed off about something I tend to just work harder and make drinks faster than anyone thought possible. I work at a coffee shop (or used to) and I've been known to clean and stock the whole store by myself just to have something to keep me occupied.