Just breathe
I allow stress to have a life span only as long as the stressful moment and breathe it away when it's over.
Most importantly, I only stress the things which are under my control. Traffic jams, late busses, rude people... I smile and breathe recognizing it's out of my control and beyond my energy level... Therefore not worth my time stressing over the situation.
As a massage instructor I teach my students as well as my clients the importance of deep breathing exercises. They seem to help me along with my students and clients.
I use this simple rule Stop, count slowly 1...2...3.......10. It works most of the time.
Timothy, Yes, stress can be very detrimental to ones health. It is important to deal with it swiftly to make sure we don't let it get us down.
Dr. Melissa Read
Stress is the enemy and it will kill you if you let it happen. I isolate my stress and then deal with it accordingly.
Christie, It sounds like you have a great handle on the impact of stress in your life. You expectations are well set. Stress will always be there in one form or another. How we manage it is what we can control.
Dr. Melissa Read
Yes, so true! Sometimes when I am stressed, I realize that my breathing is very shallow, so shallow that I have to stop to take a deeper breath!
I love this. Its so what I have or would do. You need an extra minute to breath and regroup your thoughts. Stress will always be there in life, you just gotta learn to control it and BREATH...
Joe i agree. I also find that stepping back from the situation and taking a few deep breaths helps lower the anxiety
I do not think you should advocate your "own stress" in order to do something. This can be counterproductive.
Imagining yourself in a different place can help alleviate the current stress situation. What are some ways to alleviate it permanently?
My wife deals with her stress this way. I am one who does it the other way and wants to get it "all out on the table" at the time of the issue. How do you deal with these two different ways of dealing with stress?
Richard, Sounds like the right approach. Many instructors benefit from taking a step back. When we take a moment to collect our thoughts, we are often much more effective when we return to our work. Most people don't feel comfortable taking a step back in order to move forward. That being said, sometimes it's truly the only way to get ahead.
Dr. Melissa Read
I will always stop when something stresses me out and take a second and write iut down and get it out of my head and then come back to it a while later when I calm down and see why I became stressed in the first palce.
Marlene, I like how you mention imagery. Many people find that visualizing peaceful scenery or pleasing things can help them tremendously. Great news is that this technique can be used anywhere. Soothing music and singing can really help too. Thanks for sharing!
Dr. Melissa Read
Not only is breathing helpful to alleviate stress,but other healthy strategies such as exercise, imagery,listening to soothing music and singing are effective.
I usually put my ipod on and just go for a walk. It lets me relax and get rid of all negative thoughts and concerns I have in my mind. And yes, taking deep short breaths and smiling is always a plus!
I've done breathing exercises when stressed out that greatly help me cope with the rest of my day.
That's a good way to deal with life! When I feel stress coming on with things I have control over, I just roll with it. I find that it stems from procrastination or poor organization, as well. So, it is amazing how some of these other concepts come into play!
