Relaxation Techniques

Not all stress is bad- a certain amount of stress is a useful motivator in the short term BUT if you are noticing the symptoms below you might need to take some action to deal with stress.
SYMPTOMS
· persistent tiredness; exhaustion
· deliberate avoidance of things that need doing
· bodily tension, leading to headaches, migraines, upset stomach · sleep problems; either can’t sleep or sleeping too much
· loss of appetite or increased eating of ‘comfort foods’
· too much to do; no motivation to get started
· mind in a whirl; can’t think straight, concentrate or work effectively
· feeling under pressure; no time; often in a panic
If you are suffering from these symptoms you should ask your GP if there is an underlying medical problem.  If stress is the problem there are a number of courses of action you can take. You should make time to do this as it will make you much more effective– it is NOT a waste of time. Relaxation is a ‘transferable skill’ which will not only serve you well in exams, presentations or interviews but also at the dentist or in any other stressful setting, or as a way of helping you to get to sleep.
The exercises themselves are simple but they do work. As you begin to achieve a relaxed physical and mental state, your heart rate will slow and the amount of adrenalin released into the bloodstream will decrease.
If you have found something that works for you then stick with it if it helps and has no damaging effects but try these techniques too!