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The Point of RelaxationThe Point of Relaxationby Nicole D. Huff, R.N."Just relax and dont worry about it." Anyone who has ever experienced excessive stress can tell you that those words are easier said than done. The ability to relax when under pressure is not a naturally occurring process. It requires education and skills development. The good thing is, once youve learned how to relax, you will never forget. Relaxation means to let go and bring relief to our physical selves. It is a skill that allows us to release tension, expectation and the accumulated stress of daily living. Unlike recreation, it is a process of passivity that can increase the enjoyment of our pastime activities. The regular practice and mastery of basic relaxation skills is essential to learning the more advanced states of relaxation, as well as techniques of meditation. To achieve an effective state of relaxation, a person must maintain a conscious awareness of their body, mind and emotions. This awareness extends beyond superficial acknowledgment and into active recognition of each related part. Consider a time when you felt very tense. Whatever the situation, try to recall some of the thoughts you had and how you felt both physically and emotionally. Ask yourself how you behaved and what your reactions were to those around you and to your environment. Making note of these things will help you learn to identify triggers and become more aware of the self-talk that goes on in your head during times of increased stress. Learning how we react to stress does not mean we will never again feel or experience those same reactions. It will, however, allow us to use the awareness as an early warning system. When the National Weather System issues a warning, we pay attention and respond immediately. We should do no less when our own built-in warning system attempts to inform us of an impending personal storm. The time to learn and practice relaxation skills is now. It is imperative to practice them on a regular basis, not waiting until our warning systems do go off. Once this happens, practice ends and skills begin. Do you want to wait until the storm comes before you know what to do? The time to prepare is now. There are many benefits of relaxation to consider other than that of helping us prepare for stressful times. These benefits include: Pain Relief Increased Longevity Reduction of Fatigue and Insomnia Prevention of Cumulative Stress Effects on the Body Increased Energy Level and Productivity Improved Memory and Concentration Improvement in Self Confidence and Awareness of Feelings Improved Reaction Time Reduction of the Symptoms of Asthma A Decreased Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes and Other Addictive Substances Increased Compassion and Ability to Love The above-mentioned benefits are just a few examples of how relaxation can help. When you consider the means by which relaxation produces these benefits, you will begin to understand just how dynamic its regular practice really is. In other words, the benefits that can be gained are extensive in relation to our overall health, healing and daily functioning. There are several methods of relaxation that can be learned. Some of the better-known techniques are Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Autogenic Training, Biofeedback, Visualization and Guided Imagery. |