Scuba Trish's Stress Reduction Page
Ok so you are eating a healthy diet, working out in anyway that works for you, and trying new things. Look at you, feeling fit, but uh oh!...You are working at your job (cook, cleaner, CEO, homemaker, nurse, whatever), and getting headaches, or stomach aches, or depressed, or just plain cranky. You need to balance all that energy coming in and going out with peace and relaxation.
Stress is defined as pressure.
You are suffering from everything and nothing. Pressure comes from paying bills, or not paying them. Pressure comes from getting a promotion. Pressure comes from anything that makes you do something, good or bad. Decisions are pressure, choices are pressure, what to do, what not to do, looking forward to something, not looking forward to something, these are all pressure. These are all stressors.
How to relieve that stress? Whatever works for you. I can suggest some things and you can try them or come up with your own.
My personal favourite. On a night at home when the kids are already in bed, close the blinds (curtains, shutters etc.), and get a drink of anything, herbal tea, iced tea, water, or wine. Have a bath or shower then put on some clothes that are nonrestrictive and make you feel meditative, depending on the person this could be jammies, a negligee, shorts, or sweats. Next put on some soothing or relaxing music.
*I can't have music with lyrics or I focus too much on the song, you might be different here. I like to have ethereal sounds washing over me while I relax.*
Classical, medieval, harp, earthsongs or solitudes types work the best for me.
Light some candles, be sure that they are safe from getting knocked, or worrying you, you don't need the distraction. Unplug or turn off the phone. Turn out the lights. Get comfortable on the couch or the floor, sitting or laying down. Let the music wash over you and take a few deep cleansing (soothing) breaths.
Picture yourself in a place that you find peaceful and warm. A forest, a beach, a cloud. Imagine that you are the only one in existence in this special place. There are no negative things in this place and nothing can harm or bother you. The sunlight is warm on your body and you are very comfortable and relaxed. Your breathing is even and smooth.
You can actually feel parts of your body just by paying attention to them with your mind and without moving them.
Begin at your feet. Feel them without moving them. They are alive, almost tingling as you focus on them. They work hard carrying you around all day, stuffed into shoes and providing you with transportation. Give them a moment or two of attention. Feel the blood you send to them feeding and nourishing each tiny hardworking cell and then relax them with your mind. Feel them grow heavy with the weight of relaxation.
Then your calves. They are alive and your mind can sense them. They stretch and tighten all day as you work or play. Feel the blood nourish them and then relax them and feel them grow heavy with peaceful rest.
Your knees which are next come alive at your mental touch. They spend the day working, bending and straightening while you walk, and sit. Feel them refresh as they are nourished and attended to, then relax them.
If you do this pattern of attention, refresh, and relax to your body from your feet up through your body to the top of your head, you will feel relaxed and possibly fall asleep. If you fall alseep, you will have done the job of stress reduction as your body needed it. If you remain awake and finish the entire body, then you can begin to let your mind drift. Allow thoughts to enter and leave your mind as they will. You may solve a problem or you may imagine yourself transported to another place. You may want to put yourself in a garden or by a stream and look at flowers or clouds drifting by. This is up to you. You could imagine yourself as a strong and serene being, as powerful as any. You can give your daily self strength by allowing it to be strong in peace, a form of affirmation. You must feel it to believe it.
After you are finished and feel relaxed, complete and at peace, you should begin to wake up, not tense up, just return to wakefulness. You will feel restored, re-aligned. The tension has eased and in its place is new life and serenity
After you have found the ability to achieve this sense of peace and restoration it will become easier. You will be able to relax in the tub, or in the lunch room, or on a walk, just by tapping into that pool of serenity that you have created.
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