School Stress

by Cindy
(Florida)

One of the most stressful times in my life was a 2 month time span where I lost more than I ever thought that I could handle.

It was in 2004, when I decided to return to school and I knew that it was going to be difficult with me working a full time schedule. No sooner than I started my first week, I was laid off from my job, which devastated me as I was paying for school myself.

I was already stressed between trying to get all my school work done and searching for another job. After that, I honestly didn't see how things could possibly be worse, but I learned a week later that my aunt was losing her battle to cancer and that my uncle had started drinking again.

I honestly didn't know what to do and spent everyday depressed and not knowing where to turn . I felt so empty and was stressed out to the point where I was losing sleep, not eating, as well as distant from everyone.

One day as I was coming home from school, there was an ad on my mailbox for a 24 hour gym that had just opened up down the street, so I decided it would be worth a try. I woke up early the next day and walked down to see what they offered. I signed up for a membership as well as some yoga classes.

As I was walking home, feeling better than I had in weeks, I noticed a puppy that was following me to the house. I tried to ignore him thinking he belonged to a neighbor, but he was still sitting at my front steps when I woke up the following morning.

Something told me he was there to help, which he did. Between walking and training him, along with his trips with me to the gym for my classes and working out, I actually started smiling again and realized that you have to do something about your stress, whatever it may be that works for you.