Posts Tagged ‘endorphin’
Relaxation for Stress Reduction

Stress is the curse of living in modern times. Everyone suffers from stress. And the stress we suffer takes a heavy toll on our bodies, emotions and minds.
Feeling stressed out, worn out by fatigue or just simply having a miserable day, the best thing to do is relax.
Watching television may be a form of relaxation for some, but is not a recommended method by experts. When we watch TV we are bombarded with commercials, ads, sounds and images. So how do we achieve relaxation? If there are thousands of ways we can get stressed, one of them is not meeting deadlines, there are also many ways we can relax.
In recent studies, experts have determined that heart disease is linked to anger and irritability is linked to mental stress. Too much stress brings about ischemia that can lead to or cause a heart attack. Relaxation takes on added importance in light of this matter. Managing your anger and attitude is significant to heart health, and relaxation can help you manage stress.
One way of relaxation is transcendental meditation. Recent studies have also shown that this method might reduce artery blockage, which is a major cause for heart attack and stroke. People practice transcendental meditation by repeating uttering soothing sounds while meditating, this is to achieve total relaxation. The researchers found that practitioners of transcendental meditation significantly reduced the thickness of their arterial wall compared with those who didn’t practice transcendental meditation.
Another study on another method of relaxation, acupuncture, seems to reduce high blood pressure by initiating several body functions for the brain to release chemical compounds known as endorphins. Endorphin helps to relax muscles, ease panic, decrease pain, and reduce anxiety.
Yoga is also another method for relaxation and may also have similar effects like acupuncture. In another study, participants were subjected to several minutes of mental stress. Then they were subjected to various relaxation techniques, such as listening to nature sounds or classical music. Only those who did Yoga significantly reduced the time it took for their blood pressures to go back to normal. Yoga is a form of progressive relaxation.
Breathing is one of the easiest methods to relax. Breathing influences alamost all aspects of us, it affects our mind, our moods and our body. Simply focus on your breathing, after some time you can feel its effects right away.
There are several breathing techniques that can help you reduce stress.
Another easy way to achieve relaxation is exercise. If you feel irritated a simple half-hour of exercise will often settle things down. Although exercise is a great way to lose weight, it does not show you how to manage stress appropriately. Exercise should also be used in conjunction with other exercise method.
One great way of relaxation is getting a massage. To gain full relaxation, you need to totally surrender to the handling and touch of a professional therapist.
There are several types of massages that also give different levels of relaxation.
Another method of relaxation is Biofeedback. The usual biofeedback-training program includes a 10-hour sessions that is often spaced one week apart.
Hypnosis is one controversial relaxation technique. It is a good alternative for people who think that they have no idea what it feels like to be relaxed. It is also a good alternative for people with stress related health problems.
Drugs are extreme alternatives to relaxation. They are sometimes not safe and are not effective like the other relaxation methods. This method is only used by trained medical professionals on their patients.
These relaxation techniques are just some of the ways you can achieve relaxation. Another reason why we need to relax, aside from lowering blood pressure in people and decreasing the chances of a stroke or a heart attack, is because stress produces hormones that suppress the immune system, relaxation gives the immune system time to recover and in doing so function more efficiently.
Relaxation lowers the activities within the brains’ limbic system; this is the emotional center of our brain.
Furthermore, the brain has a periodic need for a more pronounced activity on the right-hemisphere. Relaxation is one way of achieving this.
Relaxation can really be of good use once a relaxation technique is regularly built into your lifestyle. Choose a technique that you believe you can do regularly.
Tags: chemical compounds, endorphin, heart attack, heart disease, high blood pressure, mental stress, relaxation techniques, soothing sounds, transcendental meditation, watching televisionRelated posts
Strategies In Avoiding Stress Build Up

Stress, if you let it, can build up. There are several effects of stress in the many aspects of life. Stress build up can pose major health risks. Often times, people who cannot handle stress find themselves in rehabilitation facilities that offer twelve-step programs that could help them recover.
Avoidance is always better than cure. Learn to avoid stress build up through simple strategies that you could practice in your free time.
Learn To Have Fun
Having fun can provide a nice distraction from problems you have. Games are designed to occupy your time. Look into yourself and find something that you are into. Find the things that you enjoy the most. Hobbies are important parts of the relaxation process.
Drawing and gardening are great stress relievers but you are not limited to these two. You can practically put your hands on anything that you enjoy doing. Learn that it is fine to have a little fun after hard days of work.
Taking Care Of Your Health
Stress can seriously become detrimental to your health. If you have a predetermined health condition, stress can greatly aggravate that condition. People who have poor diet are most vulnerable to stress. Maintaining a healthy diet can help you in avoiding the health risks from stress.
Healthy eating at home can help you shed off some pounds since most people who are stressed-out tend to gain more weight than others. Planning ahead is an important step in eating healthy. Do weekly groceries, and plan your home meals every week. This way you do not have to stress yourself in thinking what you want to eat. Eating healthy does not mean that you need to prepare a four-course meal. A simple balance meal with the combination of protein, fruits, vegetables, bread and not too much fat is enough to get you going. You can even find healthy recipes online.
Pampering yourself with healthy meals is not the only way you can live healthy. Going to the spa and have a relaxing massage can avoid stress from building. You can also enroll yourself in weekly gym classes depending on how much free time you have. Exercising can help you cope with stress easily. Also, through exercise, you body release endorphins that increase your feelings of wellbeing.
Ask For Support
When you are feeling stressed always remember that there are people around you who can help. Friends can pick you up when you are feeling down. They can provide insights when you are confused, and help you in having fun.
Family members can provide solid support since they already know who you are and what you really want. If stress gets out of control, you can ask for counsel from your psychiatrist.
Never blame yourself for the cause of stress as this will only worsen the stress that you are feeling. Do not build a wall around you whenever you are feeling stressed and never feel helpless. Stress is an enemy that you can triumph upon with the help of loved ones.
Spiritual Practices For Avoiding Stress
Lifestyle with strong religious and spiritual foundations is generally a healthier lifestyle. Seniors use prayers as stress reliever. Prayers can also maintain emotional stability.
Practicing meditation can help you clear you mind in stressful situations. Spiritual practice is a personal experience and can surely nurture your soul.
Tags: cause of stress, effects of stress, endorphin, relaxation, stressful situations