Stress is a radically positive reaction of our body as our brains
receive a perceived threat. It's how we as individuals perceive a
situation that can make it stressful.
Stress and anxiety are part of our everyday lives one persons negative stress can be another's positive stress.
For example the thought of public speaking puts the fear of god into
many people and will cause different responses such as sweaty hands,
butterflies, dryness of the mouth etc depending on the individuals view
and experience.
Whereas the actor and public speaker will thrive on the stress level
generated as an adrenalin surge and usually give a heightened
performance fuelled by their stress level!
It is estimated that in the UK at least 40 million working days are
lost each year due to the effects of stress, either in the workplace or
in the home.
Stress has become the most common excuse for taking a sickie. Recent
government figures show that stress has now over taken both the good
old bad back and flu as the reason reported for those taking time off.
When stress levels are high other ailments such as depression, lethargy, and anxiety tend to go with it.
In the society we now live in we are forced to live at such a hectic
fast paced that we have little time to truly relax and care about what
really matters in life.
The new year is usually a precursor for increased stress level as we
begin to recover from the festive period and realise that the self
indulgent pleasures we have had have to be paid for, now is the time to
pay the piper!.
One of the major causes of non work related stress is money or the lack
of it, worrying where the next pound is coming from, credit cards to
pay, Christmas to pay for holidays etc.
Being stressed can also affect our work performance with lack of
concentration, lack of confidence, bad tempered and tiredness just
being a few side effects. So, how do we cope? Firstly we need to learn
how to relax properly and one of the most beneficial ways is through
self hypnosis and deep relaxation techniques coupled with rhythmic
breathing exercises.
So what can we do to help ourselves, where do we start?
Firstly sit down in a nice quiet spot, no kids, no TV, and tilt your
head back .Now with your eyes open look at a spot upon the ceiling so
that your eyes naturally go higher into your sockets and start to count
slowly downwards from ten to zero. As you count down at each count
close your eye lids and open them until you get to zero.
When you reach zero close your eyes this time, but keep them shut,
begin to breathe deeply being aware of the rise and fall of your chest,
breath in and out, on the out breath count the number one mentally. Say
the word "and" as you breathe in and count the number "two" the next
time you breathe out.
Repeat this breath cycle until you have reached the count of four then
start again from one. You will find your breathing starts to slow down
and you become very deeply relaxed.
You are now in a light state of self hypnosis and should be totally
relaxed. Whilst in this receptive state you can imagine yourself bathed
in warm sunlight, or imagining yourself on a tropical beach feeling
relaxed and calm or walking through woods on a warm summer's day.
As we learn to relax completely we can train our subconscious mind to
deal with our stress problems. One of the best ways is to change your
way of thinking. What does that inner voice in your head sound like
when you feel stressed, or when you get something wrong? Listen to it
internally is it angry? stroppy? Or depressed? Change how you think
,make the voice silly or high pitched by doing this you view it
differently and your stress levels drop. Also you can view a stressful
situation such as going to the dentist and making it humorous instead
as full of fear and dread. See the dentist in your imagination wearing
a red nose and clowns makeup and it will make you smile, making you
smile will relax you and presto no stress!
Did you know it takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile?
Smile more and you will increase your confidence and self-empowerment
ten fold.
