Stress Reduction

Stress is a fact of life. We all have it. But with a few techniques, we can manage and reduce the amount of stress that effects. Below are a few ways that I have found to help. Find the one that is best for you and go with it. One technique is deep breathing. Breathing correctly is essential for good health and it helps you relax by increasing the oxygen brought into your body. The next time stress overcomes you, try sitting comfortably and take deep, slow breaths. Count slowly from one to four while you inhale and count backwards from four to one as you exhale. Continue doing this for several minutes until you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the problem at hand. Next is visualization. If you are under stress and are thinking anxious thoughts, you will naturally tense up. The ability to overcome the negative feelings is in your imagination. You can refocus your thoughts to more positive images and reduce the stress in your body. As with deep breathing, you start by getting into a comfortable position. Next close your eyes and imagine a relaxing place. Somewhere you feel safe and secure. What you visualize doesn't really matter, as long as it calms you. Relaxing your mind also relaxes your body. Another technique is called progressive relaxation. All this means is to slowly relax each muscle in your body and in turn reducing your heart rate and blood pressure as well as slowing down your breathing rate. Typically, this technique involves you first tensing a select group of muscles for several seconds and then letting go of the tension, gradually relaxing the muscles. The fourth method is called the thought stopping technique. This helps you to overcome negative thinking and being overly worrisome. Negative thoughts have been known to lead to doubting oneself, fear, and antisocial behavior. Yoga is another wonderful form of relaxation that can help ease your stress. Not only does it relax your mind, it also can improve your overall body image. The breathing you do during this exercise has been found to lower blood pressure. Doing yoga also improves your posture, muscle tone, and flexibility. It has also been known to improve a person's outlook on life in general. The last technique is an alternative one. The simple act of listening to calming music or to relaxation CD's can ease the stress you feel. Put on your favorite choice, close your eyes, and sit back and enjoy. How to find Stress Relief.