Stress relief is something we often only think about by the time we really, really need it. Life’s hectic pace can bring us to a point of feeling stressed out and even experiencing stress symptoms. All of a sudden, we realize we want stress relief NOW. Part of the information overload about stress and stress … [Read more...]
Stress Relief, Touch, and the Vagus Nerve
Familiar with “fight or flight?” With sudden high stress, there is an activation of the fight or flight response, getting the body ready to either flee the scene or fight. Of course in most cases, there is no place to run (or hide), and the stressful situation is not one that can easily be fought off. And with … [Read more...]
Is Stress a Laughing Matter?
Since today would have been Lucille Ball's 100th birthday, it's only fitting to consider the power of laughter in stress relief. When is the last time you laughed, hard? Was it just earlier today? Or a couple of days ago? With high stress, it's pretty easy to get serious and worried. Playfulness and stress usually … [Read more...]
Hidden Effects of Stress Breathing – II
In a recent post I talked about some of the hidden effects of “stress breathing,” or breathing only as far as the chest area. There is an additional hidden effect of that shallower, tighter way of breathing; that’s the effect on your emotions. Our emotions can affect our breath, of course. When we are feeling calm … [Read more...]