Stress and Relaxation
I have a particular interest in the area of stress and relaxation. Stress is a common problem of modern day living with which many people are unable to cope. I firmly believe that learning to manage stress and effectively use relaxation has become an essential life skill. Over the years I have collected a number of tools and techniques which assist many of my clients in achieving calmer more relaxed lives.
Common symptoms of Stress:
- Physical: Headaches; muscle aches (Neck, shoulders, legs); chest pain; stomach upset; nausea; indigestion; diarrhoea; twitches or tremors; dizziness; fatigue; skin irritations or rashes; sleep disturbances; teeth grinding; nervousness; heightened arousal; and hypersensitivity.
- Emotional: Anxiety; fear; panic; depression; lowered self esteem; guilt; intense anger; grief; denial; fear of losing control; feeling overwhelmed; irritability; emotional numbness; and mood swings.
- Thinking: Slowed thinking; difficulty making decisions; confusion; difficulty concentrating; memory problems; loss of confidence; pre-occupied thoughts; heightened or lowered alertness; unwanted or intrusive thoughts; nightmares; hyper-vigilance; difficulty identifying familiar objects or people; poor problem solving; and loss of time/place/person orientation.
- Behavioural: Emotional outbursts; suspiciousness; loss of or increase in appetite; irritability; short temper; mood swings; restlessness; apathy/boredom/disinterest; withdrawal/isolation; increased use of alcohol/drugs; change in speech patterns; and anti-social acts.
If you are experiencing any of these you might benefit from learning how to deal with your stress through the effective use of relaxation techniques.
