Welcome to StressLand, May I Take Your Order

It seems to be the new spring thing around the Sleepy home for stress to start oozing out of every available crevice. I seem to have, by and large, avoided this in years past, though this year I'm managing to hold my own against Tim. For me it's owing largely to a new job that is seemingly unprepared for new hires and long, endless days filled with reading and re-reading the research I bring in, every day thinking I've brought more than enough to get me through the day. And every day realizing that no, in fact, I have not. Couple that with sitting in a conference room all by myself and theoretically needing an escort anytime I need to get up. Well, it's a joy. (I say theoretically cause everyone has basically told me to just wander about at will and if someone questions me to give them a call. This in itself causes stress because deep at heart I am a goody-two-shoes and am not prone to wanton rule breaking. Thus there have been many hours where I've sat, squirming, thinking that I might just be able to wait a little longer to get a drink before dying of dehydration and then I could hitch a ride on someone's coattails. Thus far no dice, but holding out until absolutely no alternatives exist makes me feel some better.)

Tim, however, is not faring as well as I am. I think what is pushing his system out of "So! Incredibly! Stressed! I! Could! Scream!" land and into the land filled with foamy drool and gibbering is the pollen and his poor body's attempts to manfully deal with same. He has reached the point of stress that he's itchy inside his skin, close to freaked out, and with no ability to consciously understand why. We've listed the stressors (finals in two weeks, deadlines looming at work), we've made plans of attack so that he could feel more in control, etc. In short, we've followed the usual steps that have helped him to conquer the stress and motor on his way in a much more able to cope manner. Unfortunately, just as they didn't work last spring, they're not working now.

So I've convinced him to stay home sick tomorrow. And to truly be sick. As in not stay home to try to "get things done" but to just lounge on the recliner with dogs all around him catching up on Battlestar Galactica and Heroes episodes, napping, and all those wonderful things that you do when you're sick. He's going to give it a try. I'm really praying it works, though I'm thinking I might have to try and finegle him into taking the rest of the week, but we'll play it a day at a time for now.

Anyone have good de-stressing suggestions? We're fresh out and in need of something new.