Inbetween Rescue Remedy & Reflexology is there anything else I can do to force myself to relax

[Katymac]

As I am a lot bit uptight?

I just need to calm down a bit

& maybe chill?

[Wonderstuff]

Have you tried meditation? I slow my breathing and concentrate on relaxing small parts of my body in turn, often helps me sleep. Although sometimes I am too stressed to contemplate starting.

[Katymac]

Maybe

I generally fall asleep

[choosyfloosy]

try mindfulness meditation

am not one to talk as i haven't managed to get really going with practice (am on 6-week course)

but the teacher i have does a 'three breaths' thing which is very good and very quick!

also have hot bath

and [whisper] there is a lot to be said for a glass of wine

NOT every night of course [looks over shoulder, hides glass]

[ItsGraceAgain]

lol, you won't get very far by forcing yourself!

I'm another deep-breaths fan. What I do is called meditation, contemplation and mindful relaxing - depending on who's naming it. A super-quick trick is the 7-11 breath: breathe in for a count of seven (tummy-deep breath), hold fractionally then breathe out for a count of eleven.

If you like the breathing, post back and I'm sure we'll be happy to tell you how to meditate/contemplate/be mindful ... that's easy, too

I also second deep baths, long showers, chocolate and a nice glass of something friendly! And slow stretches. Preferably before the wine, not after.

[Katymac]

Ok I do the deep (hot) baths

Relaxing is really hard things are racing in my mind & I can't escape

[racingheart]

Self hypnosis. There's one technique where you just breathe gently and think the word CALM to yourself. You try and see the word - sort of visualise it in the distance, then let it come towards you and enter your brain and work down through your body. Sounds weird but it really can work.

But I don't think I've described it well enough. You'd probably need to go to a hypno for them to teach you the technique. Worth it though.

[PiggyMad]

I have one of those running water music type cds you hear in health spas that I put on when I'm in the bath with lavendar bubble bath, a couple of tealight candles and the lights off. Now when I hear the cd I automatically feel relaxed because I associate it with relaxation so I put it on if I'm feeling a bit stressed and just stand in a yoga/tai chi pose and shake my muscles out. That all probably sounds ridiculous, but it does help I think!

[lelarose]

I worry a lot and have been having hypnotherapy which has helped. You could try the numerous hypno cds you can get. Deep breathing def works. I also find housework oddly therapeutic sometimes, and can't agree more with the glass of wine thing.

Oh and physical exercise, even just a walk is marvellous if you are up to it.

Or do anything that distracts you from your thoughts if they are the problem- reading is excellent for this xx

[summer111]

Three 40 minute sessions of exercise a week (any type of exercise - dance, cycling, swimming etc) is clinically proven to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Try it!