How to Calm Nerves -

12 de mayo de 2013

How to Calm Nerves -

You're walking down a long hallway towards large double doors that keep seeming to move further away. Your breathing hitches and you feel like you're about to start hyperventilating. You're horrified that your nerves have gotten to you. Ever felt like that? Even if you're not walking towards very scary looking doors, we all want to find a way to calm our nerves.

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Help Staying Calm

Sample Meditation Techniques

Sample Ways to Manage Stress

Ways to Calm Down

Calming Your Nerves

Listen to music with a calming tune. It should distract you from what has your stomach in a knot. Slow, relaxed music usually does the trick, but make sure it's something you'd enjoy. R&B will not help you if you hate R&B. A quick google search for relaxing playlists can push you in the right direction. Classical music and folksy music are popular choices.

Breathe in. The most used method of calming nerves. Take one deep breath with your eyes closed and then slowly let it out. Just keep it up for a few minutes. In, out, in, out. Successively slow down your breathing, but don't breathe so slowly as to make your chest feel uncomfortable. Complement these breathing exercises with stretches if desired, making sure not to overexert yourself. Work slowly. Deep breathing lowers your blood pressure and improves circulation, physiologically helping your body relax-- that's why it works so well! When stressed or worrisome, your body tends to tense up as a survival instinct-- this allows you to move quickly when a threat is perceived. Therefore, relaxing your muscles is crucial to relaxing your mind.

Visualize. Sit somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in a peaceful place, maybe in a meadow. With your eyes closed imagine yourself laying down in the grass. Imagine how your skin feels against the grass and the smell of the flowers. What sounds would you hear? What would you see? The more you lose yourself to it,the more relaxed you will be. Combining this step with some of the earlier ones can make your relaxation especially effective.

Take a nap. Even if you have less than 15 minutes, close your eyes and try to get some sleep. When you wake up you should feel refreshed and energized. It helps your brain think more easily and should help out your nerves. During sleep, with the exception of deep REM sleep, your brainwaves and bodily metabolism slow down, again physiologically relaxing your entire body. Make sure you're comfortable, though-- you don't want to wake up with a neck ache from sleeping in a strange position. Also, the best way to take care of your body is to get enough nightly sleep in the first place.

Get up and stretch! Stiff muscles don't calm your nerves. Get up, walk around the room, do jumping-jacks, or just reach for the sky. Try to relax your muscles. Long, repeated stimulation to the brain due to extended periods of repetitive work or stress can be combated with occasional other stimulation, like movement and dancing. This wakes up other parts of the brain mostly inactive during your work, and help pick up your mood.

Get some fresh air. Go outside, into a different surrounding, even if it's just for a minute. Gulp in some fresh oxygen. Just a quick change of atmosphere can relax you. This is a case of exposing yourself to new stimuli as a quick pick-me-up.

Take a long walk. A good walk can take your mind off of your worries, at least temporarily. Observe and appreciate your surroundings as you take everything in. Remember, the body is evolutionarily not accustomed to extended periods of sitting. Getting your body moving is doing your body a favor.

Eat something healthy. Fruit is good. A full stomach always helps, even if it's just a little full. Eating sugary food is bad, as it can make your nerves even worse. A well-balanced meal can prevent you from feeling groggy, tired, or generally ill-tempered.

If you have the time, take a nice warm bath. The water will help relax your muscles and might even get rid of your nerves. If you have time, pamper yourself! Take out the fancy bath salts and your favorite book and relax as you soak.