Several weeks ago on a Monday evening, Scott and I met up at home. Our individual days at work had battered us nearly beyond recognition and we needed something to raise our spirits. It was decided that the only thing that could help were brownie sundaes.

I pulled Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours down off the shelf, surveyed the ingredient list and began to bake. The moment the scent of melting chocolate arrived at our noses, the stresses of the day eased. While I don't believe in turning to food to solve all of life's problems, those brownies truly redeemed our otherwise crappy days. I would recommend you keep this recipe on hand for those moments when nothing but chocolate will do.

In the Philippines, there is a restaurant that allows you to vent your frustrations by throwing plates and televisions at a stress relief wall. In Nanjing, China, there is a bar than lets you vent your frustrations by throwing punches at the staff. The Rising Sun Anger Release bar is a concept that the owner, Wu Gong, said was inspired by his experiences as a migrant worker. There was no place for him to vent any anger or frustrations, but his clients won't face the same problems.

The bar employs 20 specially trained men who are outfitted with protective gear. Customers can ask them to dress up as the person they'd like to attack, whether it's a teacher, ex-boyfriend or an employer. Gong says that most of his customers are women who work in the service industry and nearby bars.

If the idea of hitting a stranger or throwing a glass doesn't sound constructive, Wong also offers the services of psychology students from local universities to customers who just want to talk.

On those days where you are simply so frustrated you want to throw something, all you need to do is hop on a plane and fly to the Philippines. There is a restaurant just outside of Manila where, for a small fee, you can hurl plates at a wall to relieve stress. The wall is covered in writing with common aggravations, like "ex-boyfriend", "boss" and "perennially complaining customers." According to the owners of the restaurant, the three most popular targets are "boss", "wine, women and gambling" and "loan sharks." A plate costs about $0.30 and, for a mere $25 more, patrons can toss an old TV set at the wall, too. It's a small price to pay for the privilege of smashing up someone else's stuff, rather than your own.

[Image via Reuters]