I love the ocean and the waves are so relaxing.  Sitting on the sand watching the tide come in and go out is what I use to center my thoughts for stress relief and as also as a meditation technique.

You don’t have to go anywhere though to get the same results if you have a relaxation tape with ocean sounds,  a nice cool breeze and a sun lounge to lie in but experiencing the real thing now and then is fabulous I must admit.

Pick a vacation location where life moves at a slower pace.  Relax and don’t crowd too many activities into a day.  Read that book you bought ages ago but never had the time to before.

Get some good quality sleep.  Go to bed early and get up late.  Have a nap in the afternoon if possible.  Lay in a sun lounge (in the shade) and have 40 winks.

Walk along the beach, swim in the ocean or hotel pool.  Nothing makes you sleep better than exercise during the day.  Don’t forget that you are aiming to reduce stress in your life.

OK I can hear you saying you can’t afford a vacation.  If so then why not do it all in your mind.  I often will walk along the beach in my mind.  Take a day to do nothing but rest, revive and reduce your stress.  You are worth it!

I really cant say that I am cured from, and that I have succeeded in overcoming panic attacks. If I let my anxiety levels rise then it is a possibility that I may have another panic attack. The difference is now that I don’t fear it. I know how to work through it.

dont panic

Overcoming panic attacks hasnt been a quick fix for me and I dont think too many people can say that it has been for them either. I worked on it, and as I have said in previous posts, I took one step at a time and now I feel I have succeeded.

Looking at life through positive eyes has been something that I have to work at but I am much better at it now than I was in the beginning. It’s like anything that has been a habit, it takes time to change. Life has opened up to me again and I am happy, which is probably a result of that positive outlook.

The hardest thing for me, still, is to not avoid certain places where I used to feel stressed, and I practice that and am doing ok. By exposing myself to the stressors I have, over time, been desensitized to them so I keep that up as I dont want to regress without realizing.

I have come a long way since my first panic attack so many years ago and I am grateful that I have overcome my fears to move forward and live a life that is full and without barriers.

Overcoming panic attacks will be different for each person and I realize that. I hope my story gives other fellow sufferers some hope that life can change for the better with proper treatment and a willingness to get better.

Anxiety doesnt rule my life anymore. I am now in control. Life is good.

Ashwagandha Root is said to make you calm even as it makes you strong. The antioxidant effect of active principles of this herb may explain, at least in part, its reported anti-stress properties.

valerian

Valerian Root contains chemicals with sedative properties to help with an improvement in sleep without morning grogginess or other side effects which leads to a greater overall sense of well being.

Kava Kava which is a member of the pepper family. Kava is consumed as a drink or supplement. In small doses, its effects include muscle relaxation, sleepiness and feelings of well being but is to be taken only in the short-term.

Passion Flower is a popular anti-anxiety remedy, that makes you calm and may help relieve anxiety related stress. The fresh or dried leaves are used to make an infusion, a tea which has been found to contain beta-carboline harmala alkaloids.

St. Johns Wort has been used to treat nervous conditions since ancient Greek times. Clinical studies revealed that it can relieve anxiety and stress. This is probably the most popular plant used for herbal stress relief. Extracts are usually in tablet or capsule form, and also in teabags and tinctures.

chamomile

Chamomile has a wonderfully soothing, sedative and absolutely harmless effect so it is the perfect herbal stress relief remedy. The Chamomile flower is brewed as a bitter herb tea infusion. It is also used for preventing nightmares.

Lemon Balm is used medicinally as a herbal tea, or in extract form. It is used as a mild sedative or calming agent. At least one study has found it to be effective for stress relief. Grow it yourself and chop it and spread over your salads.

Hops are more frequently combined with other herbs, like valerian. The relaxing effects of hops is largely due to a specific chemical component: dimethylvinyl carbinol.

Herbal stress relief is worthwhile in pursuing but when purchasing herbs (processed not fresh) try to find out the growing conditions of the herb, the plant parts that are used, time and method of harvest, extraction and other manufacturing processes, and storage. I understand that is not always possible so at least read the labels and I suggest you buy reputable brands so at least you can rely on their reputation for supplying you with a quality product.

I have found that the best one is the one that works best for YOU. Trial and error is the key to success with these herbs.

There is much controversy surrounding the effectiveness of  St John’s Wort as a depression and stress relief treatment.  While it has been found to be effective on its own, there are some drug interactions that could cause adverse effects to patients who also suffer from other disorders.   This herbal  is definitely effective but certainly needs to be taken only with the supervision of a physician.

Effective stress relief can be achieved though with regular use of  St John’s Wort.  While this is so, improvement in one’s general mental state can only be expected about three months after starting the herbal treatment.  Those who are looking for immediate stress relief should consult with their physicians right away.  Formulations of this herbal remedy vary in potency and could differ in their effects on a patient.  It would not be wise to make a decision on which brand of  St John’s Wort product to use merely based on cost.  You need to investigate the various brands and decide the best dosage and potency for your condition.

Other side effects of using this herbal remedy could include photo sensitivity and dizziness.  Extra care should be taken to address these side effects if you are going to be taking it continuously for stress relief over a long period of time.

There is no denying that St John’s Wort can do what it claims it can do.  It does lift mood for those who are seeking treatment for mild cases of depression or for stress relief.  They can definitely benefit from taking this herbal supplement  but only with proper consultation with a physician and by making  an informed decision.  Just be aware of the drug interactions though but this is a natural anxiety treatment worth trying for stress relief and mild depression.

Many more people are now suffering from stress-induced anxiety disorders at different levels.  Some form of relaxation or stress control measures should be taken by anyone who wants to stay sane in these days.

There would not be a day go by when we would not be confronted by at least one form of stressor or another.  From the moment we wake up to the time we retire for the night we can come up with a long list of things that annoyed or displeased us:  the alarm clock not going off, kids dilly-dallying and nearly missing the school bus, rush-hour traffic causing you to be late for work, the washing machine breaking down  – and you are only just starting out your day.

There are simple relaxation and stress control steps that you can take and these are great stress busters.  One important one is to have your own quiet time.  This may be difficult if you have children, so try and do this when they have gone to bed at night.

Start with banishing all the noise from your mind, heart and body and you can close your eyes to help block everything off.  Sit in a comfortable but not slouching position.  Feel the energies flowing through your body.  Start thinking about what you are grateful for and what makes you happy.  Make affirmations about yourself and your life.  Fill yourself only with positive thoughts.  Relax your mind. The positive energies will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated in mind and spirit.

Ultimately, it really is just a matter of attitude.  Nothing can affect your disposition if you do not allow anything to affect it. Relaxation and stress control is something that can be achieved only with your permission.  No matter what kind of therapy you get into, if you are not open to making certain modifications to the way you think and react to things, you will continue to be adversely affected by anything and everything that goes on around you.

People who handle stress

These people also approach problems differently from those that don’t handle stress well.  They are optimistic about the outcome and their ability to do something and not just worry over the situation.  They think of alternatives to their problems and take action.  If you do nothing and just worry about your life then the situation will never change.  This is a big solution for stress relief for a lot of people.

They don’t fear making mistakes but see these as chances for improvement. They realize that if they make a mistake nothing really bad normally happens, and they will learn from that experience. They don’t worry about change or uncertainty in their lives because they feel certain that the outcome will be ok for them and they will be able to embrace or manage the change. They know not to worry about something that might happen until it actually does.

If you are not one of these people then you can become one by changing your attitudes to a more positive one.  Be confident in decisions you make and learn from others that handle stress better than you.  Ask them their secrets for stress relief. Don’t procrastinate but take action and make good things happen in your life.

I think this quote from Woody Allen says it all about stressing over things.
“The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have”.

Driving to work or anywhere for that matter during peak periods can be a very stressful experience.  We seem to get all the red lights or they aren’t working, banked up traffic and construction zones.  There is also the noise and pollution associated with driving in the city.  The kids can get bored and restless and you arrive at your destination stressed.

I don’t know about you, but for me I really feel anxious especially when others are cutting in to my lane or wont give way when they are supposed to. If you feel stressed then it can escalate into road rage by you or others around you.  Just let go of the anger and stress.  Don’t let other drivers or passengers influence you or give them the satisfaction that they may have upset you.

Stay calm and try to empathize with the bad driver.  This may sound silly but it works for me so why not try it yourself.  You don’t know why they are acting this way this time.  They may have an emergency and are frustrated too by delays.  The kids on the other hand may be an ongoing problem you may have to work on.

Turn on on some music, something you really like to listen to as music is a great soother, and use the delay to relax. I love to think of myself somewhere warm, sitting by the ocean, drinking a Margarita. This can also be the time you can do some muscle relaxation exercises as well.

Make sure you allow enough time to get to your destination, know how to get there before you leave home, take something for the kids to do in the care and if you get too stressed pull over and take a break.

Happy safe driving and don’t stress out!

I have been using visualization techniques for awhile now to achieve stress relief which in turn keeps my anxiety levels low.  Through a mind technique like imagining my favorite sounds, sights and smells I can put myself into a more calm state and often it lifts me up to a happy and positive mood for the day.

My favorite “happy place” is a rock pool on a white sandy beach.  I imagine sitting in the rock pool with the waves coming in and feeling the warm rush of water relaxing me as it washes over my body.  I can hear the rhythmical sounds of the waves crashing on the shore around me, the warm sun on my skin and the smell of the fresh salty air.

The main visualization technique for stress relief though that I use is one where I have conditioned myself to react to smells especially perfumes, and when I travel I buy a new perfume to use, and then that aroma gets associated with the places I go to and I have found this repeatedly to be a great mind technique.

For instance I have a lovely light perfume which has a refreshing fruity smell and when I wear it I am transported in my mind back to Hawaii again.  It’s like a dejavu affect and I can fell and smell the warm air and the total bliss of being in paradise again. You can prolong that feeling by resting somewhere, closing your eyes and walking yourself in your mind through an experience you had during that time.

Another example of visualization is through sound.  I have a lovely recording of rainforest music.  When I hear the birds and the waterfall and the wind rustling through the trees I can feel I’m really there walking through a winding track covered in fallen leaves, bark and moss and I look up at the canopy above in awe at the enormity of the scene.   With this mind technique I find around 20 minutes is enough to find me more relaxed and calm again.

Remember when you finish any visualization technique for stress you should always come of it slowly,  like you would from a long sleep.  You can have quick visualizations like my aromas ones that lift your mood instantly but they are shorter lived but don’t discount them because they are still happy moments to be treasured.

Massage – Dr. Scholl’s DR6624 Toe-Touch Foot Spa with Bubbles and Massage.  A foot bubble bath and massage in one.

A book about a hobby or interest such as The Big-Ass Book of Crafts. I’m sure there is something in there for everyone.

Aromatherapy idea – Aroma Home Aromatherapy Microwaveable Hot Booties – Hot Sox.  How wonderful to have warm feet this winter and have the lovely aroma of pure essential oils.  I can feel the stress melt away at the thought. This would be my pick – family and friends please note

Music CD – The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album. It’s hard to believe the words  relaxation and Christmas can be used together but it does this time.

Comedy DVD – Mamma Mia! The Movie (Two Disc Special Edition).  Watch this lovely movie and sing along with them as this is a great stress reliever too.

Gift pack of relaxing tea – You’re My Cup of Tea Gourmet Food Gift Basket – a Great Gift For Her! Tea is so good for you so why not sit back and relax with a cup of tea,  and try some tea you may not have had before like the mango green tea.

Jigsaws and games – Puzzle 3D Eiffel Tower. You can imagine you are in Paris while you do it.  Well I would as Ive been to Paris and would love to relive that memory.

Oh and if its YOU that is stressed, then just go buy a new pair of shoes or an  Oversized ”Ashlee” Tote – Brown, Red, Black or Purple handbag.  That works for me!  You cant have enough shoes or handbags can you?

These are a few of my ideas and maybe you can come up with some more.  Enjoy Christmas this year and make it as stress free as you can.   Relax and enjoy the season.

Society seems to dictate when we are allowed to cry such as funerals and weddings and women are judged less than men for crying.  Other cultures are more relaxed about crying, for instance, Italians have no such reservation about crying in public.

Most of us do cry though more often than we admit.  society though expects us to deal with our families, work and friends with calm assurance, meeting crises and catastrophes without breaking down.  it is important for our health and happiness however that we can release these tensions at appropriate times and tears are a good way to do this.

Tears are used as a device and if you pick a safe place and time to release these emotions then you are preventing yourself from those tensions building into severe stress or anxiety.

Think about what would work for you.  A few examples would be to watch a sad movie, take yourself off to a private place or hug a loved one but this is a very individual thing and you will know what works for you, so, have a good cry, release stress and be a more healthy person.