Relieving Stress and Anxiety

'I am so stressed out.....', 'Nothing is working right for me', 'Is there a God?', 'I believe, there is nothing that can be done for better', 'Anxiety is taking a toll on me' are sentences that are heard every now and then. Probably a clich saga of every person at some time or the other! But what many people are not quite aware of is the fact as to how, stress and anxiety can wreck a peaceful life and can bring in unwelcome health afflictions, making life from bad to worse. And this is not a sudden effect but a gradual one leading to serious health conditions, if not taken seriously. By the time the side effects commence, the person would have little time to realize the dire consequences of stress and anxiety.

Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Before I divulge some relaxation techniques for stress, let me ask you people, what is stress after all? Well, it is a feeling that is churned out of a cocktail of emotions like disgruntlement, anger, fear and despair. The feeling emerges when the person is forced to face a situation, where his mind refuses to follow a sane thought process. But what good has come by accumulating stress, and then more stress and then more? Gradually, the body succumbs to effects of stress on health and diseases and disorders tend to strike a sound health. It is always said, a sound mind alone can help in sustaining a good health.

Calm down.....
Calm down, is a sentence which can awaken untold wrath in the person who is under extreme stress. But then, how much ever, one tries to react, silence and serenity are the only ways to control rising levels of anxiety. So when you encounter a stressful situation in life, ask yourself these questions.

• Can I undo what has happened?
• What is it that I can do?
• Is my fretting going to do any good?
• What is my next plan of action?

Well, the answers to these questions will help you analyze the problem, with clarity. I have met stressed out people, who in a moment of anxiety think the unthinkable, do the unexpected and suffer the most unwelcome consequences. So is it not better to calm down the mind and formulate a plan B which might help you get out of your mettlesome condition? A stressful situation could be anything, a messy marriage, a relationship breakup, school exams, peer pressure, job stress, pressure to succeed in life, pressure to stabilize your finances and there is no end to this list. Someone has rightly stated, "Mind is a coward which gets scared over every little hurdle that the body comes across. But if for once, you calm down and tell yourself - All is well; it may not offer you an immediate solution, but will surely give you some courage and sagacity to find a solution to your problem". Couldn't have agreed better!

It is not the end of the world yet.....
Stress when followed by anxiety is a deadly combination, which can create a havoc in an otherwise peaceful life. What follows is despair and dreaming about all the possible Pandora boxes that possibly may not happen. In such cases, ask yourself, what is the worst that could possibly happen? And if yes, are you prepared to face it? If no, obviously you need to prepare yourself, to tackle such pesky situations. When people create a ruckus over an issue causing them stress, I can only say one thing, no hell is going to break loose and it is not yet the end of this world! In the most trying times, patience and limited use of speech can help you judge the condition better, the people around you better and will possibly help you with a tangible solution for your problem.

Shower, eat, drink, speak not but think.....
Extreme stress can at times disrupt not only the mental health, but also impact the physical health big time! I have observed people avoiding food just because of stress. And it is all the more infuriating to see a normal lifestyle getting disrupted due to such hormonal surges! When you are attacked by stress, the best thing to do is take a nice shower or probably a warm soak (use Epsom salt in your bath). Water does wonders to a stressed out and painful body. And a soothing soak will help in calming down your jittery nerves. Have some mood enhancing foods like fruits and anything which go light on your stomach and drink lot of water. Water is not only the best detoxifier, but also the best stress reliever. Have a cup of simmering green tea with a pinch of lemon and honey. Green tea, one of the natural cure for stress, has anti depressant properties which can probably substitute your depression medications that you resort to, in such trying times. Then sit and think about the events that have got you into stress. When the mind is calm, free from the clouds of anxiety, the vision to the problem becomes clearer and the solution to the problem comes nearer.

Go, shop! Retail therapy works.....
At times, boredom and failed relationships can cause undue stress in a person. Well, there is no looking back on what has already happened as there is no time machine in the world till date, which will give you a ride into past, only to rectify what happened to what should have happened. In such cases, shopping is one of the kewl ways to relax your mind, in recent times. Go shopping for something for which you have a craze. I can vouch for the fact, that it does lift up your moods when the time is all stressful with no joy. Or should I say, it offers a momentary diversion from the existing mess and offers you a chance to think about the problem with a more composed mindset. And yes, how can I forget to mention about the massage and aromatherapy? They are one of the best techniques to relieve stress and anxiety.

Think Positive..Meditate...
Last but not the least, a clich statement, I agree, but it is the only key that can help you unlock the gateway of stress and let it out. Think positive! Positivity comes alone with positive thoughts! There are times when you feel like talking to people. Speaking out to trustworthy people will lower your stress levels to a great extent. And try to meditate when you are alone. Meditation is often the best therapeutic anxiety cures, which not only helps you in enhancing your immune system but also helps in bringing your mind to peace. Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are the most natural ways of getting rid of stress and anxiety. They help a great deal in subduing the impulsiveness of a personality and increasing the pro activeness for the same. There are many types of meditation cushions available, which will help you in practicing the right postures in your meditation.

Stress often leads to the following anxiety symptoms that can decay a sound mind and health:

• Body ache and muscle tension
• Excessive sweating
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive weight loss
• Extreme form of impulsiveness

Besides, people tend to fall into a depression, which is even worse. There are many depression medications available over the counter, but I would suggest, taking shortcuts as these would prove quite perilous in the long run. Try to overcome anxiety naturally by resorting to natural cures for anxiety.

Resort to ways of reducing stress and anxiety naturally as stated above! But remember. stress is not an abnormal condition. Neither is anxiety. Nor is the combination of stress and anxiety! They are normal emotions that come in the package known as life. But what becomes abnormal is the actions that one takes in reaction to this combo. Escaping a situation has never been a solution to any problem. Rather grab the problem by neck and try solving it and you will come to realize that stress and anxiety are not worth the attention you give them! Read motivating books, listen to soothing meditation music (like Deuter's Reiki Hands of light) and engage yourself in passion driven hobbies for reducing stress and anxiety. Try following these relaxation techniques for anxiety and stress and you will be able to accept life with its shades of gray. After all, life was never a bed of roses and I believe, never will be.