Stress Reduction Techniques
You can't really cure stress in the sense that you will always have some stress in your life. You can change how you cope with stress, though, and reduce its effect on your life.
You first have to become aware of internal and external stress. You need to think about how you feel and be honest with yourself. You also need to look at the situations that are causing you stress in an honest way. Not all stress is based on rational fears and situations.
Next, you need to take time to breathe. Often, stress manifests itself in the form of tensed up muscles. If you are not breathing in a relaxed way, the tension won't go away. Make sure you are breathing slowly and deeply and not holding tension in your neck and other muscles. Take the time to turn your neck slowly one way and then the other. You don't want to overdo it, however.
These techniques can help you cope with acute stress that is related to a particular stimulus and only lasts a short time. Chronic stress from a situation that is ongoing and not going to go away requires different techniques. One thing you can do is step outside and get some fresh air . It is true that fresh air and the sun can help you relax. Exercise is known to reduce stress and the symptoms that it can cause you to feel physically.
Another idea is to play music you enjoy or watch a funny television show. Laughing is great for reducing stress. Doing something creative can also help and it is better if it involves physical activity. You could do some wood working or other type of physical expression of creativity. You could also talk to someone who will listen to you and understand what you are going through. Don't focus only on the stress, however, when you are talking to people. Get your thoughts out and then move on and don't make excuses for yourself.
These are techniques that can help you with coping with stress. However, they don't focus on the cause of the stress. They are ways to help you work toward curing stress but more work is required.
