Relax For The Health Of It

by Donna May

When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world. 
Maha Ghosananda

The warm summer months have finally arrived and hopefully you have scheduled some time to relax and have fun. Relaxation is not only fun, but essential to our physical and mental health. If you are not spending some time each day relaxing, this may be a good time to start or resume this practice as a defense against stress.

Stress has been called the “hidden epidemic” because it affects so many people. Studies have indicated that 75 percent of health problems have been linked directly or indirectly to stress. Stress contributes to many forms of dis-ease in the body. Some of these include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, asthma, substance abuse, low back pain, skin rashes, cancer, obesity, depression, peptic ulcers, mental health problems, accidents, renal failure, multiple sclerosis, headaches, spastic colon and more. 

The technology of modern society was intended to give us free time and make life easier and for the most part, it has, but now we are stressed out because of traffic, pollution, the high cost of living, the noise and fumes in the city, unemployment and a variety of fears for our safety. Added to this, we feel stressed out because of numerous pressures involving work, relationships, family issues and feelings of being unorganized and overloaded. 

The level of stress in our lives depends on our interpretations of the events. As John Milton said, “The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.” When we are feeling “stressed” we need to ask ourselves, “What else could this mean? Is there another way I could look at this so I could feel comfortable? What could be good about this challenge?” 

Whenever we experience a situation that seems either physically or emotionally threatening, we experience the “fight or flight response,” which triggers an increase in our blood pressure, heart rate, rate of breathing, blood flow to the muscles and metabolism which prepare us for conflict or escape. We can also produce the same effect by rehearsing conflicts and problems in our minds. Emotions such as anger, worry, resentment, jealousy and fear can create the same reaction. Fortunately, we also possess an innate protective mechanism against “overstress,” which allows us to counteract the negative effects of the fight or flight response. Herbert Benson, MD called it the “Relaxation Response.” During relaxation, the heart rate decreases, metabolism is lowered, rate of breathing decreases and the body is restored to a healthier balance. 

There are various healthful ways to achieve relaxation. The mind has the ability to create the relaxation response and we can use various techniques and environments to trigger that response. It can be as simple as sitting by the lake or some other natural setting or it can be achieved through peaceful music, reading for enjoyment, meditation, massage, reiki, floating in water, guided imagery and hypnosis. Some people feel that watching television or going to a movie is relaxing, but this depends on the scripts. Movies that inspire or make you laugh can promote relaxation. Watching scary movies or tense scenes can be entertaining, but they can also be stressful. If you find yourself feeling anxious and your heart is beating faster, you may need to find a way to relax after the movie. There are also active forms of relaxation like exercise, sports, gardening or any pursuit that you find enjoyable. The main criteria is that instead of thinking stressful thoughts, you are having a pleasant experience. 

The body responds to whatever the mind is experiencing. Think of biting into a lemon and chances are your body will produce extra saliva to cope with the acid of the lemon. Your body responds as if you were really eating a lemon. Similarly, you can actually cause your body to experience the effects of relaxing at the beach by using all your senses to create a “real” experience. You may want to close your eyes as you imagine yourself relaxing at the seashore, feeling the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze on your skin. You can listen to the waves as they rush to the shore and then return to the sea and hear the occasional call of the seagulls. As you inhale, you may smell the salty air or suntan lotion. You can continue to relax while you sip your favorite beach beverage and continue to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings of being at the beach.

We cannot always be on vacation physically, but we can take frequent mental vacations for relaxation. Through relaxation, we can effectively counter some of the harmful psychological and physiologic effects of stress.

Donna May MA Ed, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Stress Management and Pain Relief Specialist and a practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Reiki and Yuen Energetics. She utilizes spiritual principles and A Course in Miracles teachings in her counseling. She is available for classes, public presentations or private consultations. Donna can be reached at (248) 626-4859 or via email at: maydonna@ peoplepc.com.