DanAUG

The Negative Effects Computers Can Have on Children
STRESS RELIEF TECHNIQUES
Stress in itself isn’t harmful – it can be the pressure that spurs us on
to achieve our goals. But too much stress for too long has a
damaging effect on both our physical and mental health.
Stress Relief Techniques
Each person will respond to stress in different ways but there are a
number of common symptoms: increased irritability; heightened
sensitivity to criticism; signs of tension, such as nailbiting; difficulty
getting to sleep and early morning waking; increased use of alcohol
or cigarettes; upset stomach; loss of concentration; recurring
headaches, back pain or muscle stiffness; allergic reactions, nervous
twitches or sensitivities to chemicals. Whatever your response, the
function of the nervous system is involved which is why as someone
that has an implicit knowledge of how the body’s nervous system
works I can, and already have, helped many people suffering from
stress.
It’s important to understand that stress and pain are interactive. For
example, emotionally traumatic events such as divorce can worsen
your back pain.
And chronic pain and muscle tension can cause you to experience
nervousness and irritability. A specific spinal adjustment as
performed by a suitably qualified practitioner like myself, can help
reduce the tension in the nervous system, improving your ability to
tolerate and adapt to the stresses of modern life.
It is probably not possible to remove the stress from your life but you
sure can reduce it and learn how to respond better to the challenges
you face. It’s important that we all learn to change the things that we
can change and learn to accept the rest. Learning to recognise the
difference between what you can and can’t control will have a big
impact on your stress levels.
Try to avoid frustrating situations that you know will make you feel
wound up. Does listening to the 10 o’clock news set you up for a
night of restless worrying? If not, just, turn it off, listen to the morning
news instead. You might find it useful to keep a notebook with you
and jot down details about the situation that is making you feel
stressed. After a couple of weeks, look at these notes. You may
begin to see patterns that help you identify how, when and why you
react to certain events. This will help your recognise and control your
stress.
Your body treats real life stressful events and imaginary stressful
events in the same way. That means that if you perceive an event as
stressful the body will react is if you are really under threat. Change
your perception of a potentially stressful situation. For example, view
a job interview as an opportunity to demonstrate your skills and
experience, your chance to improve your career rather than as an
ordeal.
If you start to feel things are getting on top of you, give yourself some
breathing space. Practice deep breathing exercises, meditation or
other relaxation techniques. Never be afraid to ask for help!
Try these calming breathing exercises:
Place your hand on your stomach and feel it move up as you breathe
in and down as you breathe out. Regulate your breathing rate: Slow
your breathing to a calm and comfortable rate it may help to slowly
count each breathe in and out. Count the number of times you
breathe in and out (1 cycle) over 30 seconds. If you are breathing
more than 12 cycles per minute, you are still stressed. Abdominal
breathing involves:
Breathing in through your nose, your abdomen rising.
Pausing and imagining the oxygen flowing to all parts of the body.
Breathing out through your mouth, sighing on the exhale; your
abdomen will fall.
Remember that yawning or sighing releases tension so try sighing
deeply.
Focus on getting your diaphragmatic breathing right.
Feeling the tension leaving your body as you exhale
Repeat the above 8–10 times whenever you feel tense.
Remember to sit or stand up straight as this will open the lungs up!
Routinely spend 1 minute three times each day doing this exercise.
Contact us for more information
telephone 01245 333900
www.spinalcarecentre.co.uk
14-18 Heralds Way, South Woodham, CM3 5TQ
2 The Journal