Helping you manage everyday stresses

Although there are lots of ways to manage stress below is a selection of techniques tried and tested by the RESCUE® team to help you:
  

1 - Deep breathing

When we are nervous or stressed breathing can become shallow and rapid. To find out how you are breathing place one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen and see what the pace is. To rebalance your breathing lengthen your breath, counting slowly to four as you breathe in and to six as you breathe out. Gradually increase this length until you reach seven and nine counts respectively.

You can also try taking micro relaxation breaks - just 5 deep breaths will momentarily switch off stress.
 

2 - Rediscover your positive side: Smile

Even though it’s annoying when you’re extremely stressed and someone says “smile” they may actually be on to something. Positive thinking and a willingness to accept things outside your control are good ways to reduce tension. Take a step back from difficult situations and look at them objectively. This can sometimes help a solution to a problem come to you or may even let you laugh at the situation. This often makes you feel better as laughing releases stress-reducing endorphins that give you an instant lift. 
 

3 - Exercise

Have you noticed how the world can look much brighter after some exercise? 15 to 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise is another way to release those feel-good endorphins. And it doesn’t have to be running; anything that gets your heart rate up such as walking, yoga, tai chi, stretching or even the housework can count. Keeping active can provide a physical outlet for your frustrations, keeps you healthy and makes you feel good about yourself. This in turn can help you handle stress better in the first place.
 

4 - Choose colours carefully

Colours can have a huge impact on mood, so choose your wardrobe and decor strategically. As a general rule cooler colours tend to be calming, while warmer colours tend to stimulate.
 

5 - Take time out for yourself

Sometimes dealing with stress is about quieting your mind and re-grouping so you are in a place where you can better cope with what’s required – take 30 minutes to relax in the bath, have a massage or read a magazine with a cup of tea can help do this.

For the best relaxing bath or massage you may like to add a few drops of aromatherapy oils to the water or massage oil. Aromatherapists use concentrated essential oils from plants to relieve a range of conditions including tension and anxiety. The most recommended oils to aid relaxation are: Camomile, Jasmine, Lavender, Petitgrain and Exotic Ylang Ylang.

More information about aromatherapy can be found on the Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy website.
 

6 - Bach™ Original Flower Remedies

The flower remedies are made from wild plants, trees and bushes. They work by treating the individual rather than the disease or its symptoms and are a gentle way to manage your emotions and rediscover a positive side to yourself.

If you're constantly under pressure or feeling overwhelmed, try looking at the underlying cause of the problem as this helps you identify which flower remedy would be best for you. Some of the most popular Bach Original Flower Remedies include: Mimulus which can help us overcome shyness and specific fears or Elm for when you’re feeling overwhelmed by your many responsibilities.

For more information about how to select your own Bach™ Original Flower Remedies and courses to learn more about the system of 38 remedies developed by Dr Bach visit our Bach brand site.

(Always read the label.)