Relaxation, sometimes called the “Relaxation Response”, involves letting go of tension in your body and mind. It is the opposite of the stress response.
During the relaxation response you may notice some of the following changes in your body: reduced muscle tension, breathing becoming slower, blood vessels relaxing so that circulation, for example to the hands and feet, improves. Your mind will not go blank but it may feel quieter and calmer and you will become more still.
The relaxation response is a skill which can be learnt. It is not like sleep which may or may not relax you. During relaxation you are in control and fully aware of where your mind is wandering. Like any skill this does not come automatically. It takes regular practice. Find some more information on relaxation and how to get the most out of practicing it.
This grounding exercise is a quick and simple technique that can be used at any time to help calm you.
This video guides you through a similar grounding exercise.
The following are audios which can be used to guide you through some relaxation practices. Your health professional may ask you to practice one or more of these as part of your rehabilitation:
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