Stress and Anxiety: Learn How to Relax

We, as a people, are no strangers to stress. We’re a country at war; we’re on the verge of a recession; we are being forced to work longer hours with no commensurate pay…the list goes on. The pressure created by such external forces can make it seem impossible to ever just step back, take a deep breath and…relax.
Of course, many among us surely do not even know how to relax; we recognize that we are under a great deal of stress, but we do not understand the concept of stress management. Yet until we take the time to learn the best ways to relax, we will never truly understand how to deal with stress and anxiety.

Incorporate Relaxation Therapy Techniques

“Left unchecked, we can allow ourselves to be consumed by stress,” says Tom Maroney, CEO of Banner Therapy Products and an expert in the field of stress management. “And while it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact sources of stress in our lives, it is crucial that we aggressively address these concerns for both our psychological and physical well being, to say nothing of the well being of our loved ones.”
Of course, we all have different methods of stress management, but that doesn’t mean our methods do anything to actually relieve stress. In fact, they could just as likely make us feel worse over time. A stiff drink and a cigarette after a long day at the office? That’s not stress management. Instead, Maroney suggests a broad array of relaxation therapy techniques, including exercise, yoga, massage, relaxation music (that is, serene music recorded expressly to aid in relaxation), meditation, breathing exercises, Reiki, aromatherapy and yoga.
“The fact is, relaxation and good health are inextricably interconnected,” says Maroney. “Good health relies on proper relaxation, and proper relaxation can only be achieved through healthful means.”
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
To that end, one should not only add relaxation therapy practices to one’s routine, one should also seek to mitigate the elements of one’s life that increase stress: Start the morning with a cup of coffee? Drink tea instead. Spend the day in an office under hard fluorescent lights? Light a candle when you get home; maybe draw yourself a warm bath. Listen to aggressive music or anger-inducing talk radio during the commute? Try relaxation music or ambient nature sounds. Instead of sitting in front of your computer, pick up a book. Instead of eating potato chips or a donut, eat a piece of fruit or a whole-grain snack.
“These may seem like commonsensical suggestions,” say Maroney, “but a surprising number of people simply don’t recognize that caffeine and starch intake, for instance, can lead to conditions such as increased blood pressure, sluggishness, irregular heart rate and weight gain, all of which lead to stress. And then, these same people complain of not knowing how to relax. Frankly, for many of us, some of the best ways to relax might be to simply cut out these unnecessary, unhealthy habits.”
Furthermore, as one sets out to find answers to the question of how to deal with stress and anxiety, one should consider penciling in “relaxation” on one’s daily to-do list. Indeed, just as we have workout regimens, we might also consider relaxation regimens. Set aside an hour a day for relaxation therapy—even if it’s only one activity per day: invest in massage oils, and trade massages with the spouse on Monday; take a long, candlelit bubble bath on Tuesday, and when you emerge from the tub, lather your skin in healing body oils; on Wednesday, play some soothing relaxation music as you practice yoga or transcendental mediation; on Thursday, go for an invigorating, meditative walk; on Friday, lay in bed and read a book…it sounds simple, does it not? Does it not also sound genuinely relaxing?
“The concept of ‘aggressive relaxation’ may seem counterintuitive, even oxymoronic,” says Maroney. “But, to be blunt, it’s necessary. We do not belong to a culture that promotes relaxation as a worthy lifestyle goal, so if we want to learn the best ways to relax and deal with stress and anxiety, we must take it upon ourselves to do so, and approach these concerns as problems to be solved. Of course, problem solving demands effort. But in this case, that effort will be rewarded every day for a lifetime.”

Liisa Sullivan, president Write Away, Inc., specializes in lifestyle, medical and food and beverage writing. She lives in Weaverville, NC. Visit http://www.bannertherapy.com or email: service@bannertherapy.com for more information.