Stress is a silent killer. It is said and believed to play a significant role in physical illness and diseases. Due to lifestyle changes stress is on increase.
Being a part of the developing century, this generation is experiencing the personal crisis that are the reason for acute pressure. When we find a way or strategy to deal with this stress or pressure, it can lead to promotion of mental health well being.
Stress is a silent killer. It is said and believed to play a significant role in physical illness and diseases. Due to lifestyle changes stress is on increase.
A Guide to Stress Coping Techniques
- Relaxation Techniques: It is an active skill that lowers the symptoms of stress and decreases the incidence of illnesses such as high bp and heart strokes. Usually relaxation begins from the lower to upper part of the body. Deep breathing is used along with muscle relaxation to calm the mind and relax the body.
- Meditation Procedures: The yoga and the yogic methodology of meditation consists of a sequence of learned techniques for refocusing attention that leads to altered state of consciousness. A person who meditates becomes highly spiritual and reaches a different stage of consciousness and self awareness. Meditation is not just a practice but an art.
- Biofeedback: It is referred to as the procedure to look after and reduce the physiological aspects of stress by providing feedback about recent physiological activity and is often accompanied by relaxation training.
- Creative Visualisation: It is an effective strategy that is used to deal with stress. It is a subjective experience that uses imagery and imagination as a medium. Before visualising one must set oneself a realistic visualising goal, it helps boost up confidence. It is very easy to visualise in the state of clear mind. The easy body and relaxed mind lower down the risk of interference from thoughts that are unbidden and it provides the creative energy which is required to make an imagined scene a reality.
- Behavioural Technique: The essence of this approach is to replace negative and irrational thoughts with positive and rational ones. This includes the three stages:
Stage 1: Assessment ( discussion of problem)
Stage 2: Stress reduction ( learning technique to cope up with stress)
Stage 3: Application (following the learnt techniques)
- Exercise: Exercise can provide an active outlet for the physiological arousal experienced in response to stress. Regular exercise improves the efficiency of the heart, enhances the functioning of lungs. Exercises like swimming, running, walking, cycling, skipping etc. help to reduce stress. One must practice these exercises at least four times a week for 30 mins at a time. It should have a warm up phase before starting and cool down phase after completing.
