Relaxation techniques for anxiety are helpful methods for dealing with stressful situations such as riding in an elevator, dealing with the morning commute to work, going to the dentist, getting the kids ready for school or dealing with deadlines at work.
Your body is attuned to stress and your nervous system will produce the natural response to fight or flight. This manifests itself in numerous ways such as increased blood pressure, rapid respiration, and a sudden surge in heart and pulse rates. Stressful situations will always be with us, but you can train your mind to give yourself more control over the physical indicators of stress, thereby equipping yourself to deal better with anxiety.
The first relaxation technique is called Quieting the Mind and Body. We have a tendency to exacerbate stress by allowing the negative self talk inside our heads to take over and create a general feeling of being overwhelmed. In order to practice this technique, go somewhere quiet and focus on something that is very personal to you. It could be a small personal object like a piece of jewelry or a photo of a loved one. Concentrate for 1 to 2 minutes. Try not to let other thoughts from entering your head and disturbing your focus. Repeat this technique until you feel calm.
The Grounding Technique is another type of mediation, which works through visualization. Get in a comfortable spot and visualize yourself as a big oak tree with leaves and branches reaching towards the sky. Slow your breathing and imagine that your feet have turned into the roots of the tree and have anchored themselves into the earth. You stand tall and are shaken by nothing. Exhale again.
The Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique is a third kind of exercise. Lie on your back and let your arms rest. Breathe slowly. Make fists with your hands and hold the position for fifteen seconds. Then unclench them for thirty seconds. Tense your feet in the same way and then continue with the legs and stomach. This can be repeated if you feel the need.
Another popular anxiety reduction technique is the Tension Release through Color. Again, go somewhere quiet and close your eyes, and visualize that the color blue envelopes you. As you inhale, let the color enter your body. When you exhale, visualize that the color blue is exhaled too. Do again until you have calmed down.
Finally, the last method is called Guided Imagery. This involves visualization again, of pleasant situations and memories such as a favorite vacation in the Caribbean. Concentrate on remembering the reactions of your senses to those enjoyable surroundings. Remember how it felt walking in the sand at the beach. Smell the salt air. Remembering seeing the palm trees and tasting the food. This is an extremely effective mediation technique for developing mindfulness.
Mindfulness is generally defined as being completely focused in the moment without being distracted by anything else. All of these methods are good at reducing your reactions to stressful situations and you will be able to gain control over how you react to everyday stress.
There are many ways to treat and deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Some of the most effective ways to treat anxiety require no medication and include easy relaxation techniques. You can overcome anxiety easily with relaxation and other natural treatments. Visit Relaxation Techniques for Anxiety today.