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Stress management is the need of the hour.

However hard we try to go beyond a stress situation, life seems to find new ways of stressing us out and plaguing us with anxiety attacks. Moreover, be it our anxiety, mind-body exhaustion or our erring attitudes, we tend to overlook causes of stress and the conditions triggered by those. In such unsettling moments we often forget that stressors, if not escapable, are fairly manageable and treatable.

Stress, either quick or constant, can induce risky body-mind disorders. Immediate disorders such as dizzy spells, anxiety attacks, tension, sleeplessness, nervousness and muscle cramps can all result in chronic health problems. They may also affect our immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems and lead individuals to habitual addictions, which are inter-linked with stress.

Like "stress reactions", "relaxation responses" and stress management techniques are some of the body's important built-in response systems. As a relaxation response the body tries to get back balance

Recognizing stress
It is important to recognize whether you are under stress or out of it. Many times, even if we are under the influence of a stressful condition and our body reacts to it internally as well as externally, we fail to realize that we are reacting under stress. This also happens when the causes of stress are there long enough for us to get habituated to them. The body constantly tries to tell us through symptoms such as rapid palpitation, dizzy spells, tight muscles or various body aches that something is wrong. It is important to remain attentive to such symptoms and to learn to cope with the situations.

We cope better with stressful situation, when we encounter them voluntarily. In cases of relocation, promotion or layoff, adventurous sports or having a baby, we tend to respond positively under stress. But, when we are compelled into such situations against our will or knowledge, more often than not, we wilt at the face of unknown and imagined threats. For instance, stress may mount when one is coerced into undertaking some work against one's will.

Laughter  - Adopting a humorous view towards life's situations can take the edge off everyday stressors. Not being too serious or in a constant alert mode helps maintain the equanimity of mind and promote clear thinking. Being able to laugh stress away is the smartest way to ward off its effects. A sense of humor also allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of delight. The emotions we experience directly affect our immune system.

1. Laughter lowers blood pressure and reduces hypertension.
2. Physical Release: Have you ever felt like you "have to laugh or I'll cry"? Have you experienced the cleansed feeling after a good laugh? Laughter provides a physical and emotional release.
3. Internal Workout: A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart. 
4. Distraction: Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a more beneficial way than other mere distractions.

Get a massage  - A good massage is not only relaxing, but it may also have some real healing benefits. Some research studies show that the kneeding and pressing of muscles reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation, relaxes muscles, reduces stress levels and increases endorphins, which affect pain perception.

Meditation & Positive Attitude 

1. Leave your troubles to God …and enter God's country.
2. Know there are correct mistakes, positive disintegrations and happy depressions
3. Know that something good will come out of this
4. Imagine the worst thing that could happen and keep it up until it is absurd and leads to laughter
5. If everything you worry about happens, start worrying about being healthy and free of anxiety and stress.

Breathe in  - you've heard of the expression, "take a breather"? Sometimes just five minutes of a little rest and relaxation is enough to decompress.  Try this s little five-minute exercise

1. Lie down in a dark, quiet room.
2. Take slow, deep breaths, consciously relaxing your feet, ankles and all the way up through your torso to your head and neck.
3. Imagine a place that's tranquil (Bermuda's nice); focus on that image for at least five minutes.

Correct breathing is practiced and observed before meditation and asanas. It's believed that correct breathing alone can relax your entire body, rid it of unwanted toxins and rid your mind of anger, stress, tension and worry

Say yes to yoga  - Yoga is a system of exercises (called asanas) for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being. These exercises or postures, called asanas, can increase circulation, improve mobility and bring clarity of mind. There are different styles of yoga. Hatha yoga is probably the most well known in the United States. "Ha" means sun and "tha" means moon, so hatha yoga describes the practice used to balance your system.

In yoga, it is important to learn how to use the correct patterns of breathing to get the most out of your yoga session. The philosophy is that the breath, the mind and the body are so closely linked that whatever you do to one will affect the other..

Try Tai Chi - Tai Chi chuan (Tai Chi) is an ancient, widely practiced Chinese martial arts form. Like yoga, it is designed to enhance both physical and emotional well-being. Tai Chi consists of breathing exercises superimposed on a series of postures that flow into one another through connecting transition moves. These slow, graceful and precise body movements are said to improve body awareness and enhance strength and coordination while helping the practitioner achieve inner peace.

A sniff of lavender -Just about everyone has felt the powerful nudge of "smell memory" whenever they inhale the aroma of a favorite food. Perhaps it's fresh baked cookies that evoke childhood memories. That is the way aromatherapy works. Aromatherapy, which relies on the use of essential volatile oils of flowers and fruits to cause biochemical effects, has been proven to have positive effects on the mood.. When it comes to stress, lavender is supposed to be particularly uplifting.

Of course, researchers say not all stress is bad. Some of it, in fact, is good. A certain amount of stress enables executives to perform at their peak. The trick, of course, is managing or controlling stress to keep it within certain limits.

Rani Teksinghani
Angel Whispers - Contact +919833733357