How do you relieve stress?

I hate prepping for/answering this question in interviews because it's pretty much my signal to amp up the bullshit. Relieve stress? Have you met me?

When pondering all the various insightful and therefore intellectual topics I could of chosen to blog about (Tom Daschle and health care, the economic crisis and those Roberto Cavalli shoes I've been dying for) I decided F that. Narcistic Shetal rears her ugly head. I apologize in advance for this whiny "awww poor Shetal" post that's about to ensue.

I don't relieve, I don't deal, I accumulate and wallow like a pig in my own mess. I don't workout, I don't talk, I don't do anything except drown myself in a sea of food.

"So tell me Shetal, How do you deal with stress?" "Well when I get overwhelmed I turn to double chocolate fudge brownies, New York style cheesecake and truffles. Yup, I like to eat my weight in desserts." I'm a med school adcoms' dream (that's sarcasm in case you didn't catch it).

Although incredibly delicious it's an incredibly unhealthy use of my time and incredibly annoying for anyone (sorry Ty) who ends up having to "deal" with Shetal waist deep in a serious funk.

So what's getting my goat this time? Well in addition to the usual suspects, I'm going home.

I haven't been home for about three months and although I was incredibly excited to see my family for what I think/thought would be a relaxing few days, I am currently flipping out with stress. Cause of said stress? 1) My mom. 2) My mom. Yup, she counts twice. That's how stressful she can be. Her biggest and DAILY complaint? I'm too far away therefore she can't see me as often as she likes, therefore I'm not close (both in terms of locale and relationship) to the family, therefore I don't care about the family ergo I don't love her. WHAT?! It's so twisted it makes me want to rip my hair out in chunks.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I needed that.

I hate being sent on a one-way guilt trip to hell... and I feel guilty for everything. I don't like conflicts, fights or confrontations so I tend to avoid. I'm a classic avoider. Oh well... I better learn to deal unless I want to go totally loopy.

Thanks for listening. It was cathartic.