Relaxation Techniques - A Simple Trick For Stress Reduction!

By Carol Pounds

Are you sick and tired of being stressed out?

If you are stressed, you literally are sick and tired. You are in a constant state of hyper alertness.

You feel like your mind can't quit thinking! You're tense, erratic, and feel like you have a hundred things to do all at once, and if you quit thinking about them for one second, you'll forget something.

Or you have a big project due at work, and it's got you on edge.

Whatever it is, long term stress can make you physically ill. Often headaches, stomach pain, back pain or other more serious illnesses are caused by stress.

Although it's impossible to eliminate all stress from your life, you can change your reaction to stress.

It's time for a change, don't you agree?

I finally found a trick that will help you overcome one of the situations that stress causes.
Proper breathing!

Some of the greatest minds in hypnosis agree that one of the easiest and most effective stress reduction relaxation techniques is based on the simple notion of proper breathing.

Most of us are shallow breathers and when we're under stress; our breathing becomes even more erratic and shallow. When you slow down and control your breathing, you immediately reduce your hyper alertness. And in turn you reduce your feeling of stress.

Use this trick to dramatically reduce your stress level:

• Sit or lie down and close your eyes
• Place your right hand on your stomach and your left hand on your chest
• Imagine a blue balloon in your stomach

Breathe slowly ten times using the following technique:

• Breathe in through your nostrils and imagine the balloon filling up in your stomach
• Exhale and allow all the air to flow out of your body
• Repeat silently to yourself "relax, relax, relax" and say the number ten

Repeat this relaxation technique again by breathing in, filling the balloon, and slowly exhaling, repeating "relax, relax, relax" again and say "9". Repeat the exercise again saying the number 8 and so forth until you get to number 1.

This exercise should take approximately 3 - 4 minutes.

This simple program of slowing down, breathing deeply and slowly, and repeating relax; will bring you peace and calm. When you combine this breathing exercise on a daily basis along with self hypnosis techniques for relaxation, you are on your way to reducing much of the stress in your life.

For more information on stress reduction and relaxation hypnosis, visit my website.
Carol A Pounds

I have twenty years experience in teaching and education, twelve years working the in health care profession, and am a certified hypnotist. My goal is to help people keep their minds and bodies in optimum condition as well as give them the ability to achieve any goal they truly desire through the power of their subconscious mind. More original content on achieving your goals posted on my website.

http://www.achieve-with-hypnosis.com

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Relief From Stress - Just Change Your Mind

By Michael Pollak

It all started when I changed my mind. What do you mean, you ask? Relief from stress is what started. Well, life can be full of hardships, difficulties, trials, and really bad stuff. Why should you be happy through it? I'll tell you why. The only true way to make it through trial after trial after trial is... focus. What kind of focus? Focus on what it is you truly desire the most; your vision for your life. In this case you want relief from stress.

Now that I've got your attention, listen to this. People experience stress in their life, of course. How do we get relief from stress? There are many tips, strategies, programs, potions and all sorts of things. You know what? A lot of things work to give you relief from stress. You can get information from just about anywhere and if you tried it, it would work. Then, what really is the solution. Nothing will work unless you are focused on your desired outcome.

I have a lot of proven ideas on managing your life to get relief from stress. I can give all of them to you. That's not a problem. The problem is; how do you make these solutions work in your own life? If you have never done something before there is always a feeling of nervousness, doubt, or worry. Maybe we won't be able to do it.

You might feel this way even if I hand you the step by step proven method to get want you want. A very successful person named, Joshua Shafran related a great illustration for this. I'll paraphrase. You are confronted by a mine field and you have to get across it. I, having successfully crossed this mine field numerous times, created a map that accurately marks every mine. If you follow this map you will make it across the mine field successfully.

I know what you're thinking. But this is making me stressed out just thinking about it. How is this relief from stress? Let's keep going and you'll see. Even though you may have complete trust in me and the map, you may very well be worried that you'll never make it across. Why? You have never done it before. Everyone comes up against things for the first time in their life all the time. How do we deal with it? By changing your mind.

Just because you have the right tools doesn't mean you can successfully cross the mine field. You need to believe in yourself. It takes focus. Focusing on what you are doing. How does this help you get relief from stress? We all have habits. We do things out of habit because we don't stop and consciously think about what we are doing. We just react. This is how habits lead our lives and we're just along for the ride sometimes. When we are focused on making decisions based on our vision for our life, we are empowered. Empowered to overcome habits and circumstances.

You see, circumstances do not control us. Though, sometimes we think they do. There is great power in making decisions based on our vision for our life instead of making decisions based on our circumstances. If we make choices solely based on our circumstances, we never improve.
Think about that. Do you want to improve? Do you want a better life for you, for your family? I know you do.

Here's how all this relates to relief from stress. I can tell you that you should make a habit of planning for each day and making your priorities the things that you really need. This will help you to avoid feeling like you can never accomplish what needs to get done in a day. Feeling like this can be a source of great stress. Just hearing this is not going to change your life or make you happier. Sure, you might feel good while you read it. But, after you're done and you get back to your life, you still have the stress.

Take this challenge and you will soon be in control of your life and not a passenger driven by your circumstances. When you have a decision to make, stop and think. Am I making this decision based on my vision for my life or based on my circumstances? When you are focused and determined to succeed no matter what powerful things happen. You find yourself looking for evidences that you really can do it. You know what else happens? You actually start to think differently. You start focusing on getting it done and all of a sudden you are. You are doing it!

Let's review a little. How do you get relief from stress? You need information, tips, strategies, and products. But, it is what you do with them that makes the difference; deciding to focus on getting relief from stress no matter what. If you decide right now that you will do whatever it takes to reach your vision, nothing can stop you. If you don't believe that, then you will never succeed. Success doesn't just happen by chance. You need to change your mind and start focusing on what you really want.

Try the challenge for a few weeks. Soon you will find that you are not living by those old habits anymore. You will find that you are taking the information you need to get relief from stress and putting it into action. You will make choices based on what will actually get you the relief from stress.
Too many people focus on bullet points. What are the tips? What are the strategies? What are the products? You need those things; however, these things are not going to improve your life if you are not focused on making it happen no matter what.

I know that you are trying hard in life to do your best. I know you are doing good. Take the concept we've discussed today and put it to use for you. When I decided that this is how I was going to live my life, my whole attitude changed. I see the end, where I want to be and I choose to do whatever it takes to get there. I truly feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off of me. Life is good. Stress does not have to crush us. Relief from stress starts when you search for the knowledge and then live it. You will only experience happiness and joy.

Sincerely, Michael Pollak

Get more of the relief from stress that you need by visiting http://empoweryourworld.com now! You deserve it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Pollak

Two Breathing Exercises That Will Reduce Stress Immediately

By Sherrie Aldrich

If you are like me, sometimes the daily hectic pace of your life leaves you feeling as if you were so stiff and achy that you are a statue. Your shoulders hurt, your back aches and it is only a matter of time until the inevitable headache begins.

Muscles tighten because of inactivity, prolonged sitting in one position, excessive workouts, and a whole host of other reasons. Exposure to cold weather can also cause muscle tightness as muscles contract when you are cold creating warmth. This leaves you feeling nearly immobile and uncomfortable.

So what can you do? There are two breathing exercises that work like a charm. These can cause your body to relax and help you lose that tight feeling so that you can move more freely or fall asleep quickly.

The first exercise is just a deep breathing exercise. You want to lie flat and erase everything from your mind. Concentrate solely on your breathing. Take a deep breath and exhale. Do this 3 times. Now on the fourth deep breath, breathe deeply through your nose and hold it for 10 seconds. You can count in your mind or aloud by reciting one one thousand, two one thousand, etc. At the end of the 10 second count, slowly exhale through your mouth for a 10 second count. Now breathe normally for 10 seconds. Then repeat the deep breathing through your nose for 10 counts, holding it for 10 counts and then slowly exhaling through your mouth for 10 counts. As you continue to do this, you will feel your stress and tension melt away as your body slows the pace of everything including muscle contraction.

The second exercise is a more involved deep breathing exercise that involves your whole body. You are going to lie flat and get as comfortable as possible. Now you close your eyes and you begin to concentrate on your body. You simply breathe deeply, exhale slowly and begin to focus on first one part of your body at a time. I begin with my feet. This is like willing the muscles all over your body to cooperate and it works!

You direct all of your attention to your feet. You begin by continuing the breathing exercises and focus solely on your feet, willing them to feel calm, relaxed and at rest. You continue your way up your body, moving next to your legs. Because you are breathing and thinking of nothing but your body and your muscles, you will feel the tension start to evaporate. You will feel your muscles become more lax. It almost feels like you are in a hypnotic trance.

If you cannot lie flat, you can do this in the car or at the office. Just give yourself five to ten minutes of time that you can devote completely to your breathing and your body relaxing and you'll be amazed at how much better you feel!

Sherrie Aldrich is a freelance writer living in Ohio. http://www.incredible-ebooks.com

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Journaling for Stress Relief

By Valerie Dansereau

Journaling is a great way to deal with chronic stress. It is one of the most powerful tools for self growth and can help you release negative emotions, clear confusion and sort out puzzling or traumatic events.

The best way to begin is to set a time to write and put down whatever thoughts and feelings pop into your head. Your journal can be used to reflect on the events currently affecting you that are particularly traumatic or overwhelming. It can also be used to process other things, such as dreams, childhood events, and long and short term goals. Research has shown that writing not only about your feelings but also your thoughts about your feelings is more helpful than just venting your feelings. In other words, write from both an emotional and an intellectual angle,
Don't worry about spelling or grammar. The purpose of what you're doing is to relieve stress and release pent up emotions, not to cause yourself more stress by censoring your own writing.
Keep what you've written private. If you think privacy is an issue, keep it under lock and key. If you're journaling on a computer, password protect your file.

A journal can be written on lined or plain paper, in a special bound book or a plain spiral notebook, or you can use a computer. The important thing is to make a commitment to write for 10-20 minutes each day if you can. Schedule a time to write, whether it's first thing in the morning or last thing before you go to bed, preferably a time when you're free from interruptions. Experiment with writing at different times of day and in different locations.

Don't think of journaling as a chore. If you miss several days of writing, simply pick up and write again when you can. Chances are the more you practice journaling, the more you will look forward to it. Your journal can be thought of as a friend who is always willing to listen. In a journal you have the freedom to express deep emotions that you may not be able to share with anyone. No one will be affected by what you write. If you review what you've written over time, you'll be able to see your own growth. If you're processing a traumatic event, you'll be amazed to see how far you've come and how much you've healed.

Journaling is a lot less expensive than most other methods of stress relief. It's a great tool for self-knowledge and emotional healing. Like other healthy habits, you will improve with practice, and the benefits you attain from journaling will build the more you work on this life-changing habit.

Valerie Dansereau is the mother of two and grandmother of one. She is the webmaster of http://www.work-at-home-parenting.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Dansereau

Stress Eraser - What it Stress?

By Darlene Siddons

Basically it is our perception of people, places, things and events in our lives. If we view things as a challenge, our lives are more stressful and if we tend to be more upbeat and positive we save the "big" things for the stress button. Worry creates stress and allowing daily hassles to pile up without getting them resolved also creates stress.

STRESS vs DISTRESS
Stress is good….we need it to stay motivated, stimulated, helps us to face challenges and to solve problems and it keeps us alert. It is a very natural and import part of our lives, without it there wouldn't be any life at all, however, we need to learn to listen to our bodies, minds, and soul when we have switched from stress to distress.

We have all heard the "fight or flight" reaction and when our bodies tune into that, it is sending signals to our nervous system that it needs to act on quick notice, so the idea is to keep our lives manageable…..right, easy for me to say… J…..so here I am going to go back a little to our thoughts….stressful and negative outlook/thoughts is when we put our bodies into overreact and/or overload, it is our thoughts and feelings the we perceive and interpret that effect the body, so, our thoughts and feelings are very import components in maintaining our stress level in the "good" area and not let it get to the distress caliber.

Signs of stress are different for different people just like different peoples stress levels are different and things they view as stress are different, but the following symptoms are some of the ways you can tell if you are in stress and give you notice to do procedures to diminish it before it turns to distress:

TensionIrritabilityFeeling excessively tiredTrouble sleepingA pounding heartStomach upsetSweating palmsInability to concentrate

My life is a work in progress; my current passion is health and wellness in the arena of organic food, holistic health, natural wellness and sharing information with the physically challenged. I reside in my own personal wellness center retreat and sanctuary in California and this affords me to bring to you my wisdom, knowledge and spiritual self in my writings.

On this journey I have met many wonderful teachers and one of them is Joe Vitale, one of the teachers in The Secret, his ebook The Greatest Money Making Secret is offered for free on my website. Please stop by and receive your copy today. Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique

Parental Stress - Coping With Kids

By Margaret Tye

Rearing well adjusted children is a real accomplishment on the part of any parent and with today’s trend and lifestyle it is a hard task. Nowadays training kids begins at birth. There are lots of articles written on dealing with newborn babies or coping with toddlers, particularly for new moms, but surprisingly, there is little guidance on how to deal or cope with parental stress.

Several children under the age of five can be really troublesome and handling them is a tiring task. Parents really have to work hard as the kids at that age demand lot of time and attention.
This really stresses the parent and makes them feel trapped. Parents have to be magically equipped with patience, parental love and mothering instinct.

Growing children wreck a tidy room or scatter toys and cushions around the house. Potty training is other serious issue and you have to be geared to deal with accidents, while washing their hands is like playing in a swimming pool. Kids like to explore everything and they learn from such exploration. Hence stopping them would curb their inquisitiveness. As a parent you should tackle these issues with care and lot of patience, as love and patience builds a strong foundation in the parent and child relationship.

Due to a stressful lifestyle, many relationships break up and hence there are a lot of single parents around. Such single parents find parenting more difficult as compared to a couple.
Managing kids and a career is like walking on two rails. They are usually stressed by running around trying to manage things, and this sometimes leaves the kids neglected. Sometimes parents are not able to pursue their own dreams because they are busy tackling issues related to their kids.

Luckily nowadays there are some voluntary organizations where help can be sought. These organizations offer help for few hours each week like baby-sitting and this help can give the parents some hours of respite. Moms can get free time to mow the lawn, do some home decoration, pursue their passions or even shop. With kids growing and their demands increasing day by day, mothers lose their identity and get hassled under the pressure.

If you find yourself in this situation, don’t be depressed if you fail, as you are a normal human being. Mistakes can happen as there are limitations, hence accept them and do your best. Clean the rooms one by one and not like a superwoman. If you can, try and reduce the furniture or clear off the carpets as they are the things that delay cleaning.

It doesn't matter if the house isn't spotless. What matters is that you spend time playing and having fun with your kids. You will all benefit and at the end of the day you may feel more cheerful and capable of clearing some of the mess. Then give yourself half an hour to soak in the bath, or even do your nails.

Margaret Tye runs the From Tots 2 Teens - Parental Stress website.

Natural Beauty Treatments - Banish Stress With Herbal Massage

By Lena Morgan

Stress is one of the great hidden enemies of your face and skin. It helps to etch the lines and furrows on your face that are the marks of age. And it robs your skin of its glow and softness.
Clearly any natural beauty treatment must include a system that brings you total relaxation.
There are many ways to relax but few have the elegant simplicity of a herbal massage. Here's
the lowdown.

First, let's look at the ways in which stress affects your skin. For one thing, stress depresses your immune system through increasing cortisone secretion. That means free radicals have more chance to wreak havoc on your skin.

What's worse, stress is a response to a perceived or imagined danger. So it causes the blood to be diverted to those organs vital for survival. This leads to a reduction in the amount of blood available for the skin, which is the body's largest organ. So your skin is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs for optimal health.

Stress affects your digestion, too. You must know that knot in your stomach when you're under pressure. Plus your meals become irregular and you tend to east faster when you're stressed.
And if your food isn't digested properly, you don't get the full nutritious value. In addition, your system can get blocked with impurities. And under stress, you tend towards fast food, and consume more coffee and sugar, perhaps alcohol and cigarettes. None of these are kind on your skin.

Stress can also deprive you of the time to relax and exercise. And at night you sleep badly and don't get the rest you need.

So how can herbal compresses handle this litany of stressful horrors?

Herbal massage serves up a double whammy of stress reduction and super skin care at the same time. Here's how it works.

Massage itself is great for stress relief. Studies have shown that massage show lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, boosts blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes your muscles, and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel good chemicals.

But by using a herbal compress for the massage, you get the added benefits of herbs. These compresses are bags of herbs which are steamed and then applied to the body's various pressure points.

What's more, you can choose the mix of herbs in the compress to suit your purpose. For example, aromatic herbs such as lemongrass are great mood lifters, fragrant flowers work to relieve stress, while sour herbs tone up the skin. You can also dip the compress in oil for a moisturizing effect. The possibilities are endless.

So look into adding a herbal compress to your natural beauty treatment regimen. They're easy to prepare and a delightful experience, too.

Herbal massage is one of the ancient natural beauty treatments of Siam. Discover the secret and makeover your life naturally. Only at http://www.ampawan.com

Coping Styles - The Key To Stress Reduction

By Michael Benjamin

Cope better. But how can you? Make your coping styles more effective. But how? The answer is free Online Self-Help CBT. Let me explain why. My name is Dr. Michael Benjamin. For 38 years I have studied how people cope. As a Psychiatrist I learned how central coping styles are. Let me share what I have learned.

Coping styles are a mixture of experience and personality. By personality I mean the way that we think, feel and behave in given situations.

Are you getting a little edgy? How do I change my personality? Don’t worry you will not.

There is a dyad that we all accept as true. Feelings and thoughts, they interact and effect each other. Feelings and thoughts are the reaction to an event. Very often we have thoughts or basic assumptions which are completely wrong. The assumptions are unchallenged. They generate feelings. These feelings generate thoughts. Vicious circles are in the offing. A reaction to an event becomes prolonged. The reaction outlasts the event. The thought feeling dyad has led you into a mood. The mood makes it harder for you to cope.

Some people are very bad with their basic assumptions. They exaggerate. But by their very nature basic assumptions are unchallenged.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT] is the way to challenge and change theses assumptions.
Online Self-Help CBT is a very effective, easy tool to use. Almost immediately you feel a sense of mastery. You start to cope better. You will rapidly observe traits. Similar, wrong assumptions crop up regularly. You change them individually. Then you will soon see and change traits.

Maybe you wish to exchange experiences. A burden shared is a burden lessened. Online Self-Help CBT allows you to participate on a e-Group designed to do just that.

Dr. Michael Benjamin

Psychiatrist

myRay:Free Online Self-Help CBT : http://www.myRay.com