During the stress response several physiological changes occur in our bodies. Some activity increases for example the heart beats quicker, blood pressure rises, muscles tense and our blood clotting ability increases. At the same time the other activities such as digestion and our immune response decrease.

No harm done in the short term. The health warning comes if we hang on to this state, unrelieved over a prolonged period of time.

Learning to relax can help because it effectively switches off the stress responses, reduces pain, improves sleep patterns and reduces fatigue. We need to balance our life with periods of physical and mental relaxation to maintain an active and full life. We need to recognise unhealthy tension and make time for ourselves during and at the end of a busy day to relax and unwind.

Relaxation is a simple technique that can be practised by anyone. It is based on the premise that the body responds to events that we perceived as threatening with muscle tension. When we are tense it heightens the experience of anxiety.

Deep muscle relaxation and mental relaxation reduce and prevent the build up of physiological tension and the associated tiredness and anxiety.

The following techniques require regular practice and are best done once a week or twice a day.

Breathing and Breathing Awareness

Relaxation Techniques