Feeling The
Pressure? Stress ~
The Modern Epidemic
Human stress is nothing new. People throughout history have faced tremendous stress and the late 20th century is no
exception. Work and home pressures, new technologies, constant change, insecurity - all play their part in applying
pressure on us - pressure that can easily turn into real stress.
Western scientists now acknowledge that mind and body function together as a complete working unit, a fact that
holistic healers and Eastern philosophers have long known.
The founder of the Royal London Hospital's "Hypertension Clinic", Dr Malcolm Vanderburg, has created a
programme, "Positive under Pressure". In the programme he advocates some pressure as being beneficial to
performance, but says such pressure should be prevented from going that one stage further, the stage that turns into
positively harmful stress.
Pressure can be caused by external demands, for example, workload within your job. You must learn to ask for help, for
more time, or to say "no", when the workload (and pressure) really mounts up. Internal pressure, the pressure
that we each put upon ourselves - to succeed, to achieve, to adapt to or resist change - can be combated by relaxation
and by changing the way in which we see things.
What are the benefits of relaxation?
Relaxation slows the heart rate and regulates the metabolic rate. Reduced adrenaline levels allow more efficient
functioning of the immune system that protects each one of us from disease, AND one of the most powerful influences
on the immune system is how we cope with stress.
True relaxation focuses on calming mind and body. Alcohol, nicotine, drugs and watching TV may appear to be relaxants
(and in the short term they are), but in fact they do nothing to alleviate the anger, the anxiety, the tension that may
be building up inside you.
Dr Vanderburg believes pressure must be tackled before it becomes stress, and to that end he runs one-day group sessions
in stress management. But you can help yourself - by using relaxation, combined with visualisation techniques, you can
help to combat your own personal stress. It is not easy to genuinely relax - but Scarlet Pixel have found the "Tense,
Release" method works for many
people...
Sit or lay quietly and tense different areas of your body in turn. Start for example with your left hand. Tense it for a
few seconds. Release the tension and notice the release. Do the same with your arm, right hand, arm, neck, face, shoulders,
legs feet and torso. Progress around your body. Feel your muscles relax. (This takes a minute or two to achieve).
You should, by now, be breathing more slowly and deeply. Visualise breathing in the colour
green - the colour of peace and tranquillity. On your outward breath feel your stress
dissolving. Try breathing in calming
blue instead - it can be just as effective. Another useful method is to focus on a
glorious colourful scene; sparkling
blue seas, peaceful forest green glades. Relax.
Enjoy YOUR personal paradise away from it all.
So go on - treat yourself! Try out these simple anti stress exercises and make use of the positive vibrations of colour.
Do it regularly for maximum benefit - it's free and it's good for you!
FURTHER INFORMATION
Positive Under Pressure
Dr Vandenburg
Tel. 0171 935 0113
Australian Natural Therapists Association
7 Highview Grove
Burwood East
VIC 3151
Australia
Tel. 008 817 577
Mind/Body Health Sciences Inc.
393 Dixon Road
Boulder
COLO 80302
USA
Tel. 303 440 8460
Canadian Institute of Stress
1235 Bay Street
Toronto
Ontario
M5R 3K4
Canada
Tel. 416 961 8575
Gail Meggerersee
Body Stress Release Association
81 Rosemead Avenue
Kenilworth
7700
South Africa
Tel. 021 61 3475
© Scarlet Pixel 1999 - 2006
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