How do you cope with stress in your life? Do you smoke? Overeat? Exercise? Drink alcohol? Well, for many people, their way of coping oftentimes has some secondary negative side effects especially if the coping mechanism is habitual. Most of us can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. With a little practice, you can reduce negative responses to stress and help enjoy a better quality of life.

What is your daily setpoint for stress? I always ask clients to gauge their stress on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being no or little stress and 10 being the extreme or worst. Then, I teach them self-hynosis and other relaxation techniques. Though most clients experience immediate effects from the hypnosis, Over time, the effects and benefits of it are cumulative making it even more dramatic. Try 30 minutes everyday for one month and notice how your stress level drops!

Below Are Listed Some of the Effective Types of Relaxation Techniques Taught at Charleston Hypnotherapy:

Meditation: In this technique, you use both visual imagery and body awareness to reduce stress. You repeat words or suggestions in your mind to help you relax and reduce muscle tension. You may imagine a peaceful place and then focus on controlled, relaxing breathing, slowing your heart rate, or different physical sensations, such as relaxing each arm or leg one by one. Guided Meditation is where another person directs your thoughts to relax and clear your mind. It's great "training" for doing it on your own!

Progressive muscle relaxation: In this technique, you focus on slowly tensing and then relaxing each muscle group. This helps you focus on the difference between muscle tension and relaxation, and you become more aware of physical sensations. You may choose to start by tensing and relaxing the muscles in your toes and progressively working your way up to your neck and head. Tense your muscles for at least five seconds and then relax for 30 seconds, and repeat.

Visualization: In this technique, you form mental images to take a visual journey to a peaceful, calming place or situation. Try to use as many senses as you can, including smells, sights, sounds and textures. If you imagine relaxing at the ocean, for instance, think about the warmth of the sun, the sound of crashing waves, the feel of the grains of sand and the smell of salt water. You may want to close your eyes, sit in a quiet spot and loosen any tight clothing.

Practicing relaxation techniques can improve how you physically respond to stress by:

· Slowing your heart rate
· Lowering blood pressure
· Slowing your breathing rate
· Increasing blood flow to major muscles
· Reducing muscle tension
· Helping you to become more emotionally resilient
· Enhancing sleep

You may also gain these overall health and lifestyle benefits from relaxation techniques:

· Fewer physical symptoms, such as headaches and back pain
· Fewer emotional responses, such as anger and frustration
· More energy
· Improved concentration
· Greater ability to handle problems
· More efficiency in daily activities