Our lives are filled with many sources of external stress. The amount of information that we receive and the increased level of communication helps to elevate stress levels. The media consistently remind us that there is lots for us to fear in such uncertain times. For people of all ages, children included, stress has become commonplace.
Stress is one of the main contributing factors in the development of disease and ill health. The changes in chemistry that result from stress affect most bodily systems adversely. Consistent exposure to the biochemistry of stress compromises our immune systems. Over 75 % of visits to the doctor in America are due to a stress related condition, stress has the effect of aging people prematurely.
The good news is, there are simple daily techniques that can be used to reduce stress and bring balance to the system. The key is learning to trigger the opposite branch of the nervous system, to initiate the relaxation response. With regular practice these techniques can be used at any time to reduce stress and calm the system. We all have an amazing self-healing ability, which works most efficiently in the absence of stress.
Deeply relaxing the mind and body is a healthy habit to form, this can also be known as meditation. The recent research into relaxation/meditation shows that regular practice can cause positive changes to the brain and genes. The type of rest that we achieve using these practices is different to what we experience during sleep. There are various techniques that can be learned and practiced.
Breathing techniques can also be used to initiate the relaxation response. Breathing exercises have been included within the practices of Yoga, Tai Chi and Chi Gung for thousands of years. There has been a large amount of research confirming the many physiological benefits of focussed breathing techniques. It becomes possible to positively influence nervous system activity through the use of breathing techniques.
Acupuncture is proven to be an effective tool for stress relief. Some research indicates that acupressure can be even more effective than needling for some conditions including stress and generalized anxiety. Self-applied forms of acupressure can easily be learned and used to reduce stress. Tapping techniques are a form of acupressure and are easily mastered. Stress relief points on the face and body are tapped with fingertips. The process is quick and convenient and the results are felt straight away.
A large amount of stress can be caused by dwelling on the past or fearing future events. The perfect antidote to this form of stress is bringing yourself back into the present moment consistently. There are different ways to do this and in time, with practice, it becomes easier. Spending time in nature and using your senses is a simple technique which is highly effective. During a walk either in a park or in the countryside allow yourself to experience it using your senses, try seeing, touching, smelling and hearing all that you are experiencing.
Stress is likely to be a part of our lives and it’s hard to avoid it completely. The secret is to make time in our busy schedules to practice calming and relaxing our systems. As with anything we practice, these techniques get better the more we use them. Triggering the relaxation response becomes easier and more natural. More health benefits from reducing stress are being discovered all the time, so it’s a good idea to try harder at doing less.
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