In times of trouble what do you do?

I think I pray, ninnynanny. When I've been off my head with family worries, I do pray, and I think many would consider me a hypocrite for this as I'm not sure whether there is a 'God' or not.

Depends what the trouble is. Definitely say a prayer. Don't scream or panic. Rarely cry.

If it's something big, go into quiet problem solving mode. Or pour it all out to DH and let him suggest what to do. (He's good at it)

Or perhaps do nothing. My troubles can sometimes be of my own imagining, and just fade away with time.

I understand what you say, jingl. I go cold and quiet, and turn inwards. Which means I'm not burbling on as usual, so DH will eventually ask what's wrong. But it has to be the right moment, I have to have processed whatever it is before I can share it. Or even have to have discovered what it is that's troubling me.

I find I can't share 'family problems' with my husband. He isn't really receptive and tends to blame the family members for getting themselves into whatever 'mess' he thinks they've got themselves into. We then end up arguing, so it's easier to keep the fears to myself. I go into 'managing mode' where I try to do something to help. I also turn in on myself and become distant until I can settle on what can be done, if anything. When I'm just SO fearful, I do pray. I don't panic and I don't cry. Done all that, and it doesn't work!

I talk it through with myself,usually in the middle of the night, and come up with solutions sometimes!
I want to pray but then have a conversation (with myself again) as I don't really believe there is a god, but I would so much like there to be one!

Pray and look to my husband/family/friends for support - depending on the problem. But then, I do the same in life as a matter of course - not just in times of trouble.

I don't call it praying, but I do try to open my mind and allow my subconscious to come up with ideas for solutions.

I get on the phone to talk it through, find out if there's anything I can do, clean the kitchen because I can't sit and do nothing, think it through, look for information on the internet, chat to Gransnetters, have a good talk to myself - positive self-talk usually gets me out of the doldrums, and anything else I can think of at the time. The one thing I don't do is sit still and worry - I have to do something! Not into praying as such, but lots of wishes being sent out in all directions!

I tend to turn inwards, too. I may outpour to OH but like green's he will look for blame and try to find a practical solution, when sometimes there just isn't one. I don't panic or cry, and do some form of praying, usually in bed!

My biggest problem with worry is that I can't eat, which causes my brain to cope even less well with stress .

I turn in on myself and think things over in my head, and at the same time go a cleaning spurge... everything in sight gets scrubbed. I have to be far enough through the thinking process before I can spill to anyone else if I do sometimes its just easier to keep it to myself, then when its sorted spill the beans to DH.

Oh and I eat for England

Pray , and give myself a good talking to , then probably confide in DH who normally gets things right

Go for a walk in beautiful countryside - flowers, birds, wildlife.

I go into a shell where I have long conversations with myself [quietly.] I feel duty bound to analyse and communicate and attempt to come up with a solution to the problem. I am very saddened by any form of ongoing rift [especially with family and friends.] If all else fails, I will stand down and apologise [even when I'm not in fact at fault.] Happiness is a peaceful, untroubled spirit. Unhappiness is unresolved strife.

Phone sisters, phone sons, talk it over and then sleep on it.

Me too, soop!

I am like granjura - I walk in the mountains for hours (in fact I have just got back from a tough two hour walk). Certainly no praying, crying, screaming or panic. I talk to my daughter, sister and friends. Then I lie awake thinking useless thoughts for some weeks, until I reach acceptance that there is nothing I can do to put things right, and make a conscious effort not to think of my problem. Where there is something I can do, I do it as quickly as possible.

Oh yes, the lying awake thinking certainly chimes with me, Greatnan. Round and round the thoughts go, until they've lost enough of their nagging power to allow me to fall asleep....for a while!

glass - that all sounds very familiar!
I also walk, sometimes shout at the sky, and write.

Do you know, I knew that's what you do Glass. The mad cleaning thing.

Not the eating bit though!

Isn't it funny how worries/stress affect us all so differently? I find it plays havoc with my "innards" - get the trots, can't eat, churning stomach etc.

I do pray hard too at such times, even though I am not a member of a church. I once read a quote which said something like "There are no atheists in the trenches" and I can absolutely relate to that. It does seem to help me to cope when I ask for strength to get through a difficult time.

I think.

Just that - I think quietly to myself until I can think of something to do - or not do. Sometimes I write the situation down, so that I can get another perspective on it. If it is a complex problem I write a chronography of how it developed.

Tend not to tell husband as he worries too much.

I'm used to constructive thinking: it was a necessary part of a job I had for many years.

OR - if I'm not feeling very worthy or responsible I just go out and dig the garden, plant something, or do a bit of radical pruning. It might not solve the problem but it makes me feel better.

everything Gagagran said

I wake up at 4am. If it's really bad 1am! I do pray but I have no idea to whom so maybe it is just a sort of mantra. I also eat, especially stuff that is really bad like chocolate and chips! I tend to clean if I'm cross more than if I'm worried - being worried makes me unable to settle to anything. to any one who is especially worried today.