Need help dealing with stress

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I have been having some health issues, mostly in my stomach (leading to digestive issues... or lack there of, frequently, I will leave it at that) for the better part of a year. It got really bad around my birthday in March, since then its gotten a bit better, but I still am dealing with issues somewhat frequently. The only plausible cause I can think of is stress, it first flared up during finals week (8 week classes, final week was in March) and got really bad this summer when I had to take 2, 5 week classes at the same time, and this fall when I was trying to student teach. Beyond that I have went to more than a half dozen doctors, who can't suggest anything more than eating more veggies (I do eat veggies, a lot more than I ever used to, but my body is still doing worse than it ever used too). Eating yogurt also seems to be helping, which allegedly helps stress. But considering I am still having problems, I was wondering if anyone knew of something like a good herbal remedy or the like to help reduce stress. I really don't want to go on a prescription drug, so if someone could suggest something other than that it would be great .

I'm sorry about the digestive issues, that's never ever fun. I've had good luck reducing stress with exercise, especially if I can get out in the sunlight. I've heard that meditation helps too, but I have limited experience with that. I've tried a couple of different prescriptions and some herbal supplements, but exercise has been far and away the most effective remedy for me. I bike to work because I dislike the gym and occasionally I go to a yoga class.

I walk roughly 10-15 miles a week, beyond that my job demands a lot of exercise, and I bowl a couple of times a week. I can't exercise much more due to the pain it causes me, and I really don't think exercising that much more is really that feasible.

I don't know, I like ice skating, for me, that's my absolute favorite exercise ever. If you can ever do that, try it out, it's just the funnest thing ever for me. It could be like, nuclear war outside and I wouldn't care if I was ice skating, you get almost a "high" that lasts a while after. Basically, any exercise you actually like doing will release endorphins which will relieve stress.

I can't skate (no sense of balance), I am doing this program to learn to ride a bike... but chances are that will be stressful for me too lol.

I've dealt with digestive issues related to anxiety (stress) my entire adult life which is going on 40 years now. There's been no easy answer for me. I've had every test run, even got scoped last year. They never find anything. Therapy doesn't help much either. I tried the exercise route, it doesn't do much. The truth is that the doctors don't know what to do about it so we treat symptoms. Right now I'm taking Prevacid and that works the best of any of those drugs that turns off acid production that I've tried. I also take Xanax as needed. After so many years of trying all sorts of things it come down to taking drugs for me. Doctors suggest things like eating more vegetables when they have no idea what to tell you.

Go ahead and try all the non drug suggestions but if you're someone like me whose brain rules his digestive system, you may have no other choice. I understand your reluctance to take drugs for it. I'm not keen on taking drugs either. I fight the idea as long as I can but I've had to give in on this issue. Relief in a pill is better than being miserable all the time.

Metamucil and running will take care of your two listed concerns.

Tried both, they help a bit but not that much, and running causes intense pain that is very very hard to run through.

Been riding a bike for an hour+ every day for the past week... been my worst week in a while :-/.

For me, for a while I was flipping out and having meltdowns on an almost daily basis, and needing lots of energy drinks and caffeine to simply keep up with everything happening around me. Then, I started taking a B vitamin supplement, and it was a night and day difference. So, go to the store, buy a B vitamin supplement, and see how you feel. For me, night and day difference. My priest originally told me to go see a nutritionist, as he said my adrenal glands were probably shot. When I told him about the B vitamins, he said that he started taking B vitamins, too, when he felt the way I did after college. So yeah, especially B5, but probably an B vitamin supplement would work, along with vitamin C, vitamin C supports adrenal health. So right now, I take like 2000mg vitamin C, 1 b vitamin pill, cheapest multivitamins they had at the grocery store, and 3 pills that add up to 100% RDA of magnesium and zinc, and have been feeling enormously better.

Merry Christmas.