Dealing with stress

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I don't know whether you're anything like me but I find it very hard to deal with a lot of things all going on at once, especially since I had a break down about 2 years ago. But I'm slowly piecing things back together and I'm really worried that the stress of everything is going to cause me to completely shutdown again. I've just started back at my old job as a cashier which involves an unbelievable amount of small talk and social interaction. I need the money but I find the whole experience extremely tiring and stressful. I also have a few university exams coming up which require a lot of work and revision for. I have also started seeing some friends I lost contact with again and I'm trying to keep up with them.
I'm starting to feel really overwhelmed and stressed out. Has anybody got any advice or tips for me to keep on top of everything without me heading towards another breakdown? I need to be really careful and eliminate stress so that I don't crash and get really depressed again.
What do you do when you get really stressed? Do you have any methods to help keep yourself in control of everything without cracking up?

thanks for reading,
Joe

tbh I don't know why I'm taking on the job. I know I definitely need a job and a lot of people would really love to have my job so I think that's why I've taken it on. I've made it clear to myself though that if things become too stressful I'm just going to quit. But I'd really like to hold it together. If everybody else can have a job and do all sorts of other things why can't I? haha. I'm not willing to accept my limitations just yet.
I've been thinking about taking up meditation as well. Maybe that'd help.

that's all they're offering. I'd rather work on the shop floor stacking shelves and stuff but then I'd have to do night work. No way am I working nights. Yikes.

This is something I have trouble with. Even small things can really stress me out and it can also cause bad physical symptoms, too. It worries me for when I get a job because I don't want to be breathing heavily and having palpitations every bloody day. It seems really hard to completely calm down. What have other people done to keep it under control?

As for uni, the advice is always not to have a job while you're there... or at least get one that doesn't drain you and take up all your spare time. And deadlines/exams... I had problems with this... and ended up needing to apply for extensions/extra time. Are your uni aware of your difficulties?

I wonder if you could talk to a supervisor or a manager, about maybe shifting round the workforce. If they is someone else with stress problems, with not been on the right side. Your body is telling you it cannot cope with it, if you do not want to accept it, your body will make you listen.

Meditation could help & stress exercises. But it is like taking medication, instead of doing the operation.

All depends on what type of supervisor you have or manager though. If they care about the 2nd biggest problem of work related sickness. Might depend on country like, could be 1st. So I would say only people who are naturally geared towards it or not on the edge of tolerance cope.

Or you could do it when you think you are going to quit, depends when you want to take the risk of the person maybe listening.

Are there any on campus jobs such as tutoring, working in the help center, or a school office?

I have to limit my "unstructured" social activities. I enjoy connecting with friends, but I can only do it for a limited amount of time. I find "hanging out" far more stressful than a structured activity such as the community choir, my martial art class, or teaching. I also need to have one hour each day of time where I do what I want (engaging in my special interest either reading books on it, or watching shows on it, ect) even if I have other stuff that has to be done (such as studying). This helps to prevent a breakdown later. Making sure I have two to three structured social non-school, non-work activities every week also helps. The predictableness helps me to unwind and de-stress.

nebrets I realised that before. I've just had a pretty stressful day filled full of things I wouldn't usually be doing so as soon as I got home I sat down listening to music and immediately started learning random facts about different things on the internet. I think learning and having activities that are predictable really calm me down. I really relate to what you've said. I think each day I just need a good hour or two of me time. And that usually involves being completely alone and learning things. (It sounds a little weird when I read it back but then I guess I am a little weird heh).

also I've told my uni I've had problems with depression and they've been very understanding. I am currently being assessed for aspergers and if I get diagnosed I imagine I'd have to let them know so I could access more support.

I think I'm gonna have to find a way to really minimalise stress after these shifts. I've got my first one tomorrow and I know I'm going to be doing a lot of talking. I can already see myself after the shift just lying on my bed completely conked out and needing some definite alone time heh.

anyway thanks for the advice and stuff guys