Things That Are Supposed to Relieve Stress That Stress You Out

So this might seem obvious to some, but a new study confirms that seeing live music actually reduces stress.

(To ME, it has the 100 percent OPPOSITE effect, but we'll get into that in a second...)

While previous studies have confirmed going to a "public cultural event" shows a reduction in the stress hormone cortisol, this was the first one that specifically looked at live concerts and how they affect people.

MedicalNewsToday.com states:

Over the last couple of decades, dozens of studies have set out to uncover the chemical effect of listening to music. These studies have measured changes in a number of parameters including neurotransmitters, cytokines, hormones, vital signs, lymphocytes and immunoglobulins.

Whatever that means....

When they measured endocrine levels of people at concerts, significant reductions in stress hormones were seen across the board.

This being said, even though I love my live music, as I've gotten older, the thought of going to a live show stresses me out to no end.  Traffic. Parking. Crowds.  All big button-pushers of mine.

Going to a big event at Canalside?  For me it requires several deep breaths and intensive meditation.  All those people, the potential for something bad to go wrong, causing a violent stampede – that's what THIS brain says.

Even my newest obsession, adult coloring, gives me a level of anxiety that adds to the complexity of it.  "Am I using the right colors? I just went out of the lines. I'm bad at this."

So, what's something that's supposed to be stress-relieving that actually stresses you out?  Share!

Some of your responses this morning:

• golf
• a massage
• Sundays
• going to the gym