Serious question for men and women. What are you doing for stress relief? Yes, I've been seeing providers, but stress is still seeping out in weird ways. I got angry at a person trying to help me with a pick-up order at a restaurant. I started yelling at her. It wasn't particularly helpful when she said Google Maps is wrong, versus her shitty directions that said turn right. Well, turning right put me in the Metro parking Kiss and Ride. So, no, that would not be the restaurant.  Google Maps was somewhat right. The restaurant was behind the apartment building and the lights were off (pick-up order after hours).  

Hey whatever happened to the Dude? The guy that used to post here.  
Or was there no dude here? hmmm

Maybe tip the girl extra - perhaps later she will think, "ah, things happen for a reason - now I can pay my electric bill."

One other thing...

In the DMV as well.  For stress relief:
-Having a great time with my SB's.  2 work from home, so late afternoon romps have become common.
-Playing a ton of golf.  The only upside of COVID is that the traffic is much better.  Taking advantage by getting on the road and playing courses all over VA, MD, and PA.
-Working out on a high school field.  Went out to run the stairs and found a group on the field doing a "bootcamp".  I alternate doing my own thing vs. joining their group.
-Probably day drinking a little too much.  
-And I never stress or worry about things I can't control (weather, other people's opinions/lack of intelligence, etc...)

Thanks, ShockBoogie, actually read your post helped me understand Jacques post above.

Jacque, thanks for the thoughtful reply. Read your comments, thought about them. Then read ShockBoogie's below. After reading his response, helped me understand where you're coming from better. After a good night's sleep, feeling better. I think the semi-bottom line, is I don't like being taken advantage of. It also fits with don't mistake my kindness for weakness. In this COVID world, I'm starting to see people in the service industry assuming a 30-40% tip is the norm. If they don't get it they become annoyed. I don't eat at a cafe next door run by a Hispanic woman. I know enough Spanish to have a basic understanding. I often order one-off breakfasts. A few weeks into COVID, a new cashier asked the owner what to charge for an additional item I added to the meal. She told her to charge me for the more expensive option. I was like, ok, I'm trying to support your business, but now you're taking advantage. The food quality was dropping, and this wasn't to be the last time she did this to me. So, I stopped going there altogether.

It's still necessary for me to break up my routine. I think I did a better job of this earlier in the pandemic. It takes a conscious effort.
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I make sure I get outside on the days I'm able to. Lots of good trails and parks in the DMV. The golf suggestion above is also very good. I've resolved to start up yoga again with online classes, which really helps when I take the time to do it.
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Are people really catching COVID at gyms? I'm surprised at how little information there is on really basic pandemic-related issues that I'd think should be available and would help people make the right decisions for them.  
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Having some sort of stimulating/engaging reading or other input also helps. Audio books and podcasts are my go-tos.
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I try to reach out to one or two people every day who I haven't heard from in awhile to see how they're doing. This gets me out of myself.

LOL, but hard to chill when the guy at the bowling alley is waxing his 'balls'. I wanted to punch him through the TV screen!

Barry,

This thread belongs on the "I don't give a Fuck about your feelings" bored! And no, it isn't misspelled!

suggesting but I do find it has helped me.

Yeah when I mentioned the tip I didn’t mean because the person expected the tip. I meant because you berated the poor girl. I’m not sure what this story has to do with anything.  

In the very first line of his OP he states "Yes, I've still been seeing providers"  

"belongs on . . .  [sic.] bored"???? Missing an "a" and added an "e"?

I said Pussy! Pussy!

and the answer is YES, you got this one absolutely right IMO. I call it "abuse tax" nothing says "I'm sorry for being a jerk" than a 100% tip.  

Well buried in my post(s) is I have an addictive personality. I've been watching a lot of "How to make" videos. Love a dirty Martini, but learning about a Vesper Martini (James Bond), Watching a lot of Ciara Doughtery (link below). Girl literally drinks Irishmen under the table. Takes several shots of Everclear and says, "Hmm, a little whispy feeling". Yikes. Ran out of cream, and had a bottle of Bailey's in my office so used that - bad idea. Drinking that daily now. Finally picked up some regular cream on Friday as that wasn't going anywhere good.

GaG, that's a good idea. Again, my personality (tested) shows I have difficulty not tipping anything (emphathetic, I atually care what people think - which is a problem IRL). I, underscored the "I", need to get over that. Psychology kicking-in, sometimes you need somebody to say its ok to do that. Appreciated brother...

Working on it, working on it. Chatting with some guys offline, the DMV isn't particularly plentiful right now. Yes, there are providers, but not meeting our criteria. Going to the aforementioned conversation, it feels like some providers are taking advantage of the COVID situation to charge more and offer less under the guise of exposure. For example no LFK/DFK, but you're BBBJ, in a small room for an hour, face-to-face, but no LFK or DFK. )Not trying to start-up a flame war on the price issue.) Just commentary on getting jaded with the scene.

Nothing more than feelings.....

Maybe it's from living in Las Vegas where it seems like almost everybody lives on tips, or maybe it's from having dated so many bartenders, cocktail waitresses et al, but I usually over tip except when I get irritated by either rudeness, stupidity or incompetence at which point I have ZERO issue in stiffing a waitperson totally.  

of you as a Pussy, so we are one the same page.

Watching or following the news can be stressful and cause anxiety.
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So can persistent irritants in your own life (hey wife, I'm looking at you.)  Those are harder to avoid.  But if you can identify them as a source of concern at least you can start to disengage a bit.

I've put a ton of ffriends on 30 days ignore on social media. That was becoming stressful as I read political posts that just pissed me off.

appreciable rise in my stress level during the Covid hysteria, mainly because I haven't bought into it.  I've continued to hobby, seeing about 60 Kgirls and 5 indies during the "lock-down" period, which still continues in California, with limited opening-up the last month.  If I was still feeling any stress whatsoever after all of that sex, I have a legit massage place where I have been a customer for years where I can get a bootleg massage by entering the back door of the spa.  It costs double, because they only let two customers and two masseuses in at a time. Well worth it under the lock-down conditions.  

I, too, noticed that my stress levels were through the roof.  
Here's the ones that worked for me. Its' mostly self care, self care, self care.
-I pick up one of my abandoned hobbies that don't involve electronics - like painting, jewelry making, calligraphy.
-I go for a massage. From a 90 min full body massage to one of those quick reflexology massages. Just some quiet "me" time.
-I treat myself- to a nice healthy fruity smoothie, or pick up dessert from my favorite restaurant, or a fancy meal but delivered to my home, or a very nice bottle of champagne.
-I listen to meditation videos (from youtube). I don't even meditate or close my eyes while I do it, i just find that the soothing sounds and voice help bring my energy down.  
Lastly... exercise!

I'm a bit of an over-thinker and need the opportunity to "get out of my head" for an hour or so everyday.

my life that was missing in the beginning was the gym, but I have a friend who if well off and has a well-equipped gym of his own, and he has invited me and a few of his other friends to use it a few times a week.  Less than I would like, but better than nothing.

One of our long time workers died of COVID and pretty much most of his family was infected. Was supposed to check out the ranch in July, but decided against it since rates were going through the roof. Figured I dodged a bullet as would have been interacting with him and others closely.

Or have enough "high energy" sex that it actually counts as exercise and get the best of both worlds. lol

To the Black-Panther, I completely relate with what you said.     These are stressful times, indeed.   I am out west in California, and living under smoke-filled skies for nearly a month has brought my spirits down and I am at the end of my rope so many days, but I have to count my blessings sometimes, at least I still have a roof over my head and I haven't lost my job yet.

Love this Buddhist quote: "The mind is like water. When it's turbulent it's difficult to see. When it's calm everything becomes clear."

and just fuck and drink a lot like I do.  

Yeah a lot of stress. I have a summer house in Southwest Oregon  so far so good, hasnt burned down. Weird watching the news and recognizing all the buildings and roads. Even stranger seeing places I know having burned down.

Let's hope the house stays safe -- or is well insured.

there will always be things to stress over, and that's why a lot of people die too young.  When life hands you lemons, learn to make lemonade.  I live in SoCal, and while I don't go out of my way to breathe smoke on purpose, I have really enjoyed some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.  They would not be possible without the smoke.  

Just an update -- the Almeda Fire that took out much of Phoenix and Talent here in southern OR is mostly contained, but the initial estimate of 600+ houses destroyed is now been updated to 2,357 houses.