How do you spell relief?

How do you de-stress?  I've never been good about not letting things get to me.  I keep EVERYTHING inside!  I have been told by 3 doctors in the last few weeks that I need to reduce/eliminate the stress in my life.  Easier said than done........  One doctor said that with all the good I've done losing all this weight and my healthy eating and exercise the stress will undo all the good.  In other words the stress will kill me.

I have gotten better over the years but still internalize way to much.  I know there is one large "issue" I really need to face but I'm not sure I'm ready to do that just yet.  Probably after I recover from my lower body lift.

Anyhow......I recently started taking baths a few nights a week as a way to relax.  It helps....but I need more.  Maybe I just need a vacation......it's been 3 or is it 4 years since I went anywhere or took time off from the day-to-day.

So how do you de-stress???? 
All ideas are welcome...please share.
Thanks a bunch
Ruth

What I do to destress:
Pet my doggies
Ride my bike
Pedicure/manicure
Change my hair color
Paint my nails
Sing
Dance
Laugh with friends
Tell my hubby it's time to cuddle...love to cuddle!!
Talk a walk, meditate
Sit in my hottub
Visit the elderly in the nursing homes, sing to them. They love visitors.

Lots of great ideas......THANKS!!

Wouldn't it be nice to have the magic answer to this question.  i like to sit out in nature and just breathe and listen to the trees blowing in the wind, the birds, dogs barking or if by the water the waves lapping at the shore.  The water is so calming to me.  I can pretty much block things out when I'm by the water.

I'm with you on the water.......I think that's one big reason I really like the beach house I just bought.....
I need to find my little gadget that plays all the sounds like the birds, the ocean, etc etc

Is it like a white sound machine only with real sounds?  Those are really relaxing too.

Yep.....it's a really cool thing.  It's got a radio and about 10 or 12 different sounds.  You can set the alarm to wake you up with the radio or any sound....very cool!   I bought one for my mother a couple years ago, she loves it!

 I just started Wayne Dyer's book Change your Thoughts, Change your Life.  I calm myself by contemplating nature, dancing, singing, exercising, journaling my feelings, watching funny movies, laughing, creating an attitude of gratitude and turning problems over to the Universe.   Kind of like meditation in that you have to consciously shift your thoughts to more peaceful ones.  It gets easier with practice.
To zen or not to zen, CV Linda

I have been working on changing my thoughts when I start to feel a lot of pressure or stress from outside sources (people).
I must say just chatting, even via the typed word helps.

I learned to meditate a number of years ago and found that it helps to clear my mind of all of the crap that I went over and over and over everyday like a broken record. 
Also, as I wrote a few days ago, my former m-in-law said to me a number of years ago, when there was way too much turmoil going on around her, that she "gave it to God" meaning that she decided that she didn't need to worry  because God would handle it for her. 
A light bulb turned on when she told me that she gave it to God and I made the decision right there that I would do the same thing.  Prior to that, there was a dark cloud over my head as I anticipated the sky falling every day when I got out of bed.  I changed my mind set because I knew that it would be so much better for me to relax than to worry so much - BTW, I was in my forties when I changed my thinking, so it didn't come early to me!! 
And, one day, as I was driving and worrying (I remember the day exactly because it was such an important day for me) , I decided that there was no fear unless I chose for there to be.     I did exactly that.  I guess that I was ready.  Hope this helps.
Hugs  Margaret