h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One tip suggested to me by a counsellor while I was in my final year at Uni was to go to a car boot sale or charity shop and buy a load of very cheap plates and crockery. Then once I got home I had to clear some floor space, take a deep breath and start throwing plates at the floor, breaking them into itty bitty pieces. This was relaxing on two levels, you're taking the frustrations of life out on something you're not going to regret breaking, and you end up distracted from whatever was on your mind when you have to tidy up the inevitable mess of broken china.

Take note: Please don't do this with your best dinner service

It's generally a better idea to break someone else's stuff

On a similar note I have found that when I am incredibly stressed out listening to loud violent music and playing any video game that I get to kill things in seems to help. I also try and make sure I get a good workout in a few times a week--I find that relaxes me quite effectively as well.

Driving with loud music calms me down. After a long day at work, I look forward to the drive home. I take the back roads and crank up my music; any particular kind, really, as long as it is something I like and can sing along to. It really helps me relax.

I think driving out in the country at high speed, with the window down, on a smooth, flowing road is great to calm down. I start out stressed, angry and grouchy, and end up refreshed, calm and cheerful.

PS- only do this on nice days. And avoid traffic.

Whenever possible, I stick my head out the window and scream. This works best in slow, rural streets. But it's very gratifying

I bet you think I'm kidding

Nah, personally I howl at the moon

If I get really stressed, I stomp around and kick and throw things, though I try and avoid doing this where people can see me ;o) I usually feel better, unless I've picked on something breakable!

If I'm in a situation where I can't do that, like work, I go and sit somewhere quiet (like the toilets) and take a few minutes to breathe deeply and remind myself that kicking someone in the head isn't an option. Though sometimes I really wish it was!

A tip that actually works is to visualise you're breathing in blue, calming air, and exhaling black, angry air, and to imagine the anger draining out of you with every breath.

But how rational are you when you're angry??

Not very! I tend to find that as soon as something's wound me up, it's very easy for everything else to blow itself out of proportion too. I have to make a real effort to step back from things.

One thing I do sometimes if someone at work is annoying me is come up with amusing and improbable ways of assaulting them without getting charged with assault.......not logical at all but diverting! I'm currently working on a remote control flying baseball bat....

Actually, last summer, i spent some time designing and building my own high powered potato cannon. A friend and I spent three weeks trying to make it as accurate as possible. But, the projectile must be cyndrilical, not that the ends really matter too much. from 20 meters, I can hit a target the size of a dinner plate. Paint faces on them, and that's all the therapy you need.

Craig

And voodoo dolls. They're very gratifying!

Wouldn't mind getting hold of one of them

I actually made one once. It was awful, but it felt soooooooo good