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Take
a "vacation." Close your eyes and envision a place where
you feel safe and relaxed -- it could be your favorite beach or
under the covers in your bed. Allow yourself to really
"be" there, experiencing what makes this place special to
you. Breathe it in, open your eyes and take it with you.
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Keep
a bottle of ylang ylang essential oil in your makeup bag. Take of
sniff of this anxiety reliever when you start getting twitchy
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Roar
like a lion! Scrunch up your face and squeeze your whole body tight,
then release everything wide with a sound, sticking your tongue out
as far as you can. This alleviates tension big-time, plus you'll
feel so silly you might even laugh.
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Decorate
your space with fresh flowers. Symbolizing life and beauty, flowers
are a perk for all the senses. If you feel like getting more
ambitious, buy a plant. Gardening is very therapeutic in the
treatment of depression, and although one plant isn't exactly a
garden, it's a start.
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Give
yourself a neck massage, rolling your knuckles over any painful
spots. Better yet, get your mom or a friend to do it for you.
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Meditate
on the breath. As you inhale, think "breathing in," and as
you exhale, think "breathing out." Try this for five
minutes. When your mind wanders just return to the breath.
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Try
a mudra when you meditate. Mudras are symbolic hand positions which
channel the flow of energy. The chin mudra, in which the thumb and
index finger touch while the rest of the fingers are outstretched,
is intended to clear the mind and bring peace.
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Stretch
your legs. If possible, go outside and take a brief walk. The change
of scenery, the fresh air, and the circulation of blood in your body
will perk you up instantly.
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Try
reflexology. The point on your foot which corresponds with your
nerves is right smack in the middle, below the ball of your foot and
in from the arch. Give it a good rub. If it hurts, that's normal.
You're stressed out, after all.
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Press
play. The power of sound to alter and elevate our moods has been
widely documented. If you put on your favorite song, or any song for
that matter, you will feel differently at the end of that song.
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Chant
"om shanti shanti shanti" ("all is peace peace
peace"). If it works for Madonna, why not you?
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Get
steamed. Brew a cup of peppermint tea and place it on a table in
front of you. Lean over and create a tent around the cup with your
arms and head, breathing in this invigorating natural decongestant.
Then, drink up.
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Roll
your eyes. Tired eyes can cause mental strain, so give those babies
a break. Roll both eyes to the left and right, up and down, and then
in full circles, repeating in each direction. Close your eyes,
rubbing your palms together until they're warm. Place gently over
your closed eyes.
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Knock
knock, who's there? Sit upright in a chair with your feet flat on
the floor. With closed fists gently tap around your head in circular
motions. Breathe slowly and deeply. This improves concentration and
relieves headaches.
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Brew
a cup of chamomile tea with two teabags. Chamomile has been used for
centuries to treat nervousness and insomnia. Drink the tea, and when
the teabags cool so that they are just warm to the touch place use
them as eye compresses.
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Light
a candle. If you like the scented variety, try lavender, which is a
natural relaxant.
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Take
a shower. The water pounding on your head stimulates your brain
cells and literally gets you into a new "head space."
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This
article on stress & others can be found at
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