Coping with stress
- Advice from Dr Chris Steele
Whatever stress you're experiencing, one way of coping is to create a feeling of relaxation in your life and in your own body. Yoga is a one the best ways to relax your body and your mind - I took up yoga when I went through a particularly stressful period in my life - it actually saved my life! At the same time I started doing evening classes in pottery and I found those classes so helpful and therapeutic, even though I was useless I just loved messing about with the clay - it took my mind away from the problems in my life. So if you're stressed get a hobby - it may seem old-fashioned but it could save your mental health - it hepled me get back to my normal self. I've suffered severe stress and anxiety in my life, with resultant depression but I got over it - you can do the same!
Breathing Exercises
I have also found that whenever you feel stressed or anxious you should do slow, deep breathing (I learnt this from my yoga classes). So when feeling stressed or anxious, start breathing in deeply and SLOWLY, then hold your breath for 5 seconds, then breathe out slowly, then hold your breathe for 5 seconds. You can do this anywhere or anytime and it will create a feeling of calmness and relaxation - so here's the routine: Close your eyes .... Breathe in slowly and deeply (filling your lungs).... then hold, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... now breathe out slowly (emptying your lungs) ... then hold 2, 3, 4, 5 breathe in slowly and deeply .... Hold 2, 3, 4, 5 .... and repeat until you feel totally relaxed - maybe 10-15 minutes or as long as you want!. Use this technique as often as you want, especially before facing a stressful situation or when lying in bed before you go to sleep. For more info on any health issue go to Dr Chris's official website: www.thefamilygp.com