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Electronic publishing
Corporate Profile
Article 1: Income Generation
for Non-Profit Organisations
Article 2: Is your Yellow Pages
advert earning its keep?
Article 3: Hints on how to edit
your own copy
Article 4: Stop the World...
I want to get off!
Article 5: What is a SWOT
Analysis?
Article 6: Uno Momento
(3 short articles)
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| Stop the World - I want to get off! |
Does this sound all too familiar? If so, rest assured – you’re not alone. When problems reach unbearable proportions, many verbalise how they feel by uttering these very words. Others aren’t so fortunate. Caught in a state of constant ‘imbalance’ they continue to live their lives in quiet desperation – not even certain of how they feel – but trying to make sense of it none-the-less. Stress, is not just a buzzword for the 90s. According to medical practitioners, we are in the “grip of an epidemic”. Hundreds of thousands of working days are lost because of stress and stress-related illness, while statistics are showing alarming increases in reported symptoms of mental distress in children and young people. Perhaps more disturbing – is that these statistics are not representative of an isolated trend, but rather, an indication of the pervasiveness and acceptance of stress as a part of our everyday lives. Stress manifests as various psychological and physical ‘symptoms’. For example, in extreme periods of stress some may suffer from headaches, and anxiety, while others may suffer from exhaustion, and digestive and sleeping disorders. In addition, ‘symptoms’ may also be accompanied by various ‘coping’ behaviours. These behaviours could include an increased desire for stimulants (i.e. coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs), or other behaviours related to anger and aggression, such as a propensity to ‘explode’ with little or no provocation. So, after having recognised possible symptoms of stress – how do we negate its effects? When tension builds up we need to relax. If we don’t, the consequences can be damaging to both our physical and mental health. Firstly, learn to listen to your senses – be aware when your body lets you know that it’s tired and it’s tense. This physical awareness is a prerequisite for emotional awareness. Adopt preventive strategies such as ‘deep breathing’ and ‘time-out’, when the going gets a little rough. Other strategies could include alternative health practices such as massage, aromatherapy, tai chi, relaxation and visualisation, autogenic training, yoga, and hypnotherapy. Through developing your inner resources and by incorporating these into your lifestyle, you will gain benefits that will continue to improve over time. |
| An Introduction to the basic relaxation technique of 'Tense Release' |
Tensing and releasing muscles forms the basis of many relaxation techniques. Being one of the more common methods practised and taught by therapists – it has been used for many years in yoga, general medicine and midwifery. The object is to tense your muscles and then release them – and to feel the physical and mental release that accompanies each movement. A practitioner will generally show the technique and then talk the client through the action on each major muscle group. This is best practised before going to sleep at night – as a means of ridding yourself of the stresses of the day. Lay on your back and begin by breathing deeply and calmly. Starting from the feet, curl your toes tightly for about 10 seconds – notice the feeling of tension. After this time uncurl your toes while saying the word “relax” in your mind. Pause for a couple of seconds, then repeat the process by tensing your calf muscles – once again notice the tension during those 10 seconds – and the feeling of your muscles relaxing as you release them. Repeat the process along the length of your body, tensing and releasing muscles in your arms, thighs, abdomen, shoulders, buttocks – and even your face (by screwing it up). During each release remember to repeat the word “relax”...pleasant dreams! The author is a qualified stress consultant, experienced motivational speaker, and owner of the very successful therapy and counselling practice, ‘Happy Medium’. She specialises in family therapy, grief and bereavement, anger and aggression management, crisis and general counselling. |
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