Do you ever get bad news and just want to go shoot something to feel better?

Recoil Therapy

I don't. I find comfort/encouragement in the Word or God.

That being said, the hobby of guns, hunting and shooting is in the top five passions of my life.

Nothing is going to change the situation that you recently got the news of, but changing the situation isn't really the issue; changing your view of it... or getting through it (coping with it)... is the real issue. I don't know how a range trip could change the way you view the situation, or could change the way you deal with the situation, or could get you through the situation.

IMHO, it will only temporarily get your mind off of the bad news and punt the inner healing down the field.

NO!

Two things help me take my mind off of the stress in my life when I feel it is beginning to overwhelm me;
Riding
and Shooting.
Very nice to just let whatever is troubling me leave my head for a time, and just zone in on the matter at hand... forget about life for a second, and concentrate on that front sight. Sometimes concentrating on other things for a while is a good way to keep yourself from working yourself up over a situation you cannot change, and gives you time to cool down, helps keep you from being overwhelmed by negativity and emotion.
And of course, remember to stay safe.

Hope your troubles work themselves out for the better. God bless.

No. Likewise shooting when drunk, even a drink or two, sick with a fever, or the flu, or overtired can be recipes for disaster.

Midwest said:

No. Likewise shooting when drunk, even a drink or two, sick with a fever, or the flu, or overtired can be recipes for disaster.

Click to expand...

Sorry, but being stressed out or upset is nothing like being drunk, having the flu, or being overtired, unless you have some serious anger issues.
The OP was not talking about shooting a voodoo dolly effigy of his boss while foaming at the mouth screaming curses.

Good answer CoRoMo...

I pretty much like to shoot all the time

I find it's good to get my mind off whatever bad news I got. Focus on shooting (site picture, site alignment, target acquisition, follow-up shots, etc). Gives me something else to focus on.

That said, as CoRoMo pointed out, it only puts off dealing with whatever needs dealing with. But sometimes clearing your head for an hour or two will give you a fresh perspective.

Typically when I am really frustrated about something I just need to step away for a bit, and in a safe & constructive manner blow off some steam. For me shooting allows me to forget about it for a minute or set it aside and come back with a different perspective. And even if it still bothers me some never to the degree it did before the trip to the range. Therapeutic shooting is fine, just stay safe!

I feel like I would, but I never really have tried it. To be honest, when I'm really frustrated with something, my performance at many other things tends to suffer, so it would probably be a waste, anyway.

Going for a drive in an old truck is, to me, very therapeutic.

I'm a fairly religious person so when I run into problems or struggles I turn to my bible and my Father for help.

Shooting is good at clearing my mind, but it doesn't get rid of them. If it is something that I need to deal with, going out to the range isn't going to solve the problem for me.

No.

The disciplines of shooting, the required concentration and focus, and the refined physical demands make the act/art of shooting unable to let other things race around your mind. That translates into EXCELLENT stress relief. Actually, you are commanding yourself to BE stressed, in a more pleasant way, that probably releases those happy endorphins into your bloodstream. Nowadays, though, it is not "politically correct" to put up pictures of those that are stressing us out as targets.

It is good to get out of the house to get perspective such as to the range or the country to do some shooting. Motorcycle riding is also great. Praying is great. It is important to keep perspective.

karate and a heavy bag. :banghead:

While I haven't done it I don't see it as being different from spending a few rounds with the heavy bag. It doesn't have to be precision work, just blasting some shots into the backstop (safely) might feel the same.

Everyone has their thing...do what you need to do to clear your mind and de-stress.

SUV for target practice

I got a 96 Blazer LS in perfect shape but it needed a new engine got one without a warranty off of a guy selling one from his blazer that he wrecked.
Paid my girls stepdad to put it in and the first day i had it on the road it spun a baring. I immediately wanted to get out the Glock 20 and turn it into swiss cheese but I didnt and now I got a new engine with a warranty lol.

No.

Like many others here, I experience a sort of catharsis from shooting. It can be a much healthier temporary break from reality than a lot of other things some people turn to. Sometimes a few hours away from the problem helps us to see it in a different light, often a more productive one.

I find that doing some precision shooting (dot drills, walk backs) gets mind off things and gives me a real break as I have to concentrate on the five fundamentals of handgun shooting.

Good luck and best wishes.

CoRoMo said:

I don't. I find comfort/encouragement in the Word or God.

That being said, the hobby of guns, hunting and shooting is in the top five passions of my life.

Nothing is going to change the situation that you recently got the news of, but changing the situation isn't really the issue; changing your view of it... or getting through it (coping with it)... is the real issue. I don't know how a range trip could change the way you view the situation, or could change the way you deal with the situation, or could get you through the situation.

IMHO, it will only temporarily get your mind off of the bad news and punt the inner healing down the field.

Click to expand...

I agree completely. I also agree with Midwest to a lesser extent. I wouldn't say shooting when angry/hurt is comparable to shooting when drunk, but I just don't shoot when I'm emotional.

Regarding physical things to do when stressed or upset, jogging has always been good therapy for this guy.

Me personally, I wouldn't go shooting. If I'd received some really bad news, I would probably be thinking about it the whole time I was shooting and not paying the right amount of attention to what I was suppose to be doing. When I'm shooting, I want to be solely focused on that and not have other drama slipping in. Just me, you may be different!