Welcome Carolyn!
Knitting is a wonderful hobby and in my experience, it really does help beat stress.
It is especially great when you have to wait--in doctor's offices, or on the train or planes--I even knit in post office lines! Those are times when we get antsy and frustrated and a knitter loves those times!
It's lovely to take a few minutes break between other jobs at home, when you just need a little breather, but the best thing I think is the way picking up the needles just relaxes you, helps you unwind. It gets to be an automatic thing.
The repetitive movements are in themselves relaxing, and it lets you drop away tension while you are working on something pretty. Between the color of the yarn and the feel of it between your fingers. It's hard to explain, but it works.
Other times it seems that if you meditate or pray about a problem, when you knit you sort of come upon solutions to life's dilemmas in new ways-- after a while, you can really do some thinking and figuring things out when you are working.
This forum will have all the answers for you. These women are fabulous. I learn something every day.
Have Fun.
B
