Woman Feeling Stuck
I have been asked many times about stress management. The question is not about removing the busyness of life, but about handling the challenges that life brings without going into a tailspin.
My plan was, and is, to post a series of short practical tips for stress management.
Around Valentine’s Day, I realized that one of the behaviors that goes along with the euphoria of being in love is a particular kind of breathing. You look adoringly at your lover, take a deep breath and sigh. It is so universal it’s called a “love sigh.”
The love sigh is usually unconscious. You take a deep breath and then let it go.
We naturally use the same process whenever we are confronted with something that is particularly beautiful or awesome. I look out at the ocean and mountains and I’m struck by the wonder. If I pay attention, I notice that my breathing deepens.
You can harness this very natural breathing process associated with love and wonder and euphoria whenever you need a strategy for reducing stress.
When you are under stress and need some relief, pause for a moment and take a few long deep breaths. After each deep inhalation, let the air go from your lungs and with it visualize the tension leaving each part of your body. Try it; make it a habit; it’s easy.
Deliberate and deep breathing has another benefit. As you become more conscious of your breathing when under stress, you may find that you have been holding your breath rather than breathing normally. Holding your breath deprives you of oxygen and increases stress. So in practicing this little breathing exercise when under stress, you gradually replace a stress-inducing habit with a healthier stress-reducing habit.
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“As you become more conscious of your breathing when under stress, you may find that you have been holding your breath rather than breathing normally.”
Very true! I’ve noticed that. I’ve also noticed that it can go in the other direction – with hyperventilation, which also impairs proper oxygenation.
Excellent post, Dr. Neill! Thank you.
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The word “Stress” actually relates to wear and tear as when the rubber meets the road on a tire or the brake pads pressing up against the rotor in the wheel. The term as it applies to living organisms was first introduced by Hans Seyle in the 1930’s who defined it as the consequence of the failure of an organism (human or animal) to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats, whether actual or imagined. Thus stress symptoms are the manifestation of a chronic state of responses to stress triggers that are actually benign. Even a thought can set off the same response mechanism that would be in play while standing in front of a hungry lion. Hence, Seyle’s definition still reaches to the heart of stress management; the idea of the response being inappropriate and engaging in a process of altering ones misperception of pending disaster or imminent danger.
Moshe, very well put! I studied Selye’s “The Stress of Life” back in the 60′s. Thanks for the reminder.
Great points raised as always. Excellent content and excellent content as always. I’m Tweeting about this now!