Stress seems very common in today's high pressure, fast moving society. People become physically ill or mentally affected by these pressures, which in severe cases limits their abilities to function productively.

Stress is a process of outside influences draining the body and mind of the resources to cope with their demands. It could be a high pressure, demanding job, or a problem baby, or fear of the future. Healthwise, people may get ulcers, heart problems and intestinal disruptions. On the mental side, people become timid, some start having panic attacks, and others can go into major depression.

The process of stress can be interrupted by a few techniques, effectively "nipping in the bud" what could become a serious problem if left unchecked. The following will help:

A) Take a deep breath. Even for confirmed Panic Attack sufferers, taking two or three very deep breaths about 40 seconds apart actually "kills" the panic attack. A really deep breath floods the brain with fresh oxygen, enabling it to function at full capacity. The blood is filled with oxygen and the heart can pump a little slower. Overall, it enables your whole body to relax slightly, and gives one a tangible calm.

B) Put on a smile for 90 seconds! Well, you may feel ridiculous doing this for so long, but that's the point - it helps you to take life a little less seriously. If you can laugh at yourself, and your situation, it helps to lighten that heavy feeling that stress often introduces.

C) Relax parts of your body. We tend to tighten up muscles when stressed, without realising it. Consciously say to your body "Jaw, relax." Then consciously and purposely relax the jaw. Then tackle the next part of the body. "Neck, relax." Then shoulder, back, and so on. It works like a charm, and actually changes your appearance, so you LOOK better!

D) Give yourself a little massage. Massage whatever you can reach. Learn some techniques off the internet, and practice at home so that you are able to do it easily in office situations, traffic jams, etc. Learning how the muscles are grouped in the neck and shoulder, for example, will help you to massage the right bit!

E) Daydream. We need to stop and smell the roses. Sitting back, and letting our thoughts drift, like a leaf on a pond... It helps to slow things down when life gets hectic. When you get home from work, and you park your car, don't get out straight away. Sit back and enjoy a few minutes of slow time. Look for other opportunities to lean back and drift.

Practicing these techniques regularly will definitely help you to unwind and assist you in coping with the pressures of our hectic world.

Hi,

Thank you for reading my article.
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Thank you for your support!

Regards

Duncan Kelly