What is your unofficial or self-prescribed therapy?

Hanging out with my wife.
Drinking. And driving my antique truck. (NOT at the same time).
And shooting. And my dog.
My wife probly thinks the dog comes first. Hehe gotta keep her in the dark.

That is great to see you are from Roanoke. Me too. I left in 1983 for boot camp and just kept going since then. Living in Richmond, miss the hiking on holidays. McAfee's Knob pictures from 1988 hang in my house and get many comments. Now my kids are grown, my daughter has shown interest in going there. So I have some motivation to get ready for that trek.

Love getting out in the woods. But for the quick get away, I keep a good supply of music that relaxes me around to break into the thoughts and disrupt the cycle of repetitiveness. Try to talk to someone new each day. Listen to them instead of talking. Find similarities and relate to them. Good luck my friend.

I love to hike the forests here in Washington State but, it's getting harder to handle the pain from the hike. So, I also go out and sit next to a stream and gold pan, just like they did in the gold rush. Once in a while I will find a little yellow in my pan but mostly I enjoy the noise of the woods, running water, sounds of nature, it all clears my head. I used to enjoy motorcycles but, three to many MTBI's and my balance is shot. I'd love to hear what everyone else does.

cigar and a good book

So out of nowhere my wife decided to buy me a kayak for my birthday. I have been kayaking in the past but I was never "hell bent" on getting one. Plus I live in Houston, so the places to go are limited, or so I thought. It took me until about three weeks ago to finally get out on it, and it was great. The first time I went I was alone and I just followed the river without having to do much rowing. I normally like and do more extreme types of sports, but this was great. I came across a lot of wildlife, a couple barriers I had to overcome, and even flipped on some minor rapids (pretty new to kayaking rapids, and alone). When I flipped, I was calm and collected, even thought I was in snake, snapping turtle, and rebar plagued waters. I managed to get all of my gear back, even my Wiley-X's from my first tour that I found about a quarter of a mile down stream. Since my first time out, after I had to do some minor modifications so I do not lose any gear, I have been with a few friends and family and every time, even in the pouring rain, has been fantastically relaxing and escaping. I should have never told the wife about the snakes and flipping because now she demands I go with a "battle buddy," which proves to be a challenge at times, but I will make it work. I am always up for an overnight trip, a friend and I have it mapped out, and if you are in the Houston area, have a kayak, and want to have a chill time, let me know.

I'm surprised and sorry to hear that your wife doesn't "get" your preference for the woods. I'm not even particularly outdoorsy, but there's something about being in the middle of something so big that helps you put your troubles in perspective.

Maybe you could give her some of Emerson, Thoreau or Whitman's work, to help her understand the connection.

I like being near water. Partly because it's really easy to zone out listening to and watching the waves, but also because we spread my grandma and Poppy's ashes in the ocean, so I feel like I'm visiting them.

I lift heavy things up and put them down.

I started lifting in 2008 to lose weight, but quickly realized how therapeutic a weight slamming session can be. What's even better, the more I push the better I feel afterwards. During a workout, I have no idea why I do it. It takes about an hour before I remember.

I also ride motorcycle. I sold mine last year, but it's to build a custom one, which I'm doing right now.

I live by the water, so I walk almost everyday. I release my cares while watching dolphins swimming/playing, fish jumping, sometimes stingrays or manatees. It is wonderful!

I also do yoga regularly. Get my zen on and sh*t. ;)

It depends on my mood AND the weather (sometimes!). Fishing, Fly Fishing, Geocaching, Archery, riding the Harley, Camping, Hunting, Shooting (rifle/pistol)....

I paint, read, walk, and spend time outside. Right now, painting seems to work the best for me. I kind of get in a zone and the hours pass and stress melts away. It also helps that I have something to show for my time afterward. I can't say I'm very good at it, but for me, being good isn't the point right now...

My wife originally didn't understand my need for time alone, but she is doing better now. Or, maybe, I have done a better job explaining it to her.