Five Ways to Release Mental Stress
While it’s widely understood that being active and eating right are the keys to living a healthy and fit lifestyle, keeping our brain in shape is just as important. In his new book, Positive Directions: Shifting Polarities to Escape Stress and Increase Happiness Dr. John Ryder explains five important – and easy! – strategies to managing mental stress. As a licensed psychologist, psychotherapist, achievement coach and expert in hypnosis and for the last 20 years, Dr. Ryder shares the secrets to keeping your brain in shape.
Reality Check
The first step to getting a handle on mental stress is to give yourself a reality check. Stopping to really consider what it is that’s causing stress can put things into perspective. “Stop and analyze the situation,” says Dr. Ryder. “What is it that is causing you stress?”
Reality check can help people realize that some problems aren’t as bad as you originally thought or a solution to the issue comes to surface that you hadn’t considered before.
Take Control
After a reality check, taking control of the situation, yourself and your thoughts is the next step to a stress-free mind. “Stop the panic, stress, worry and refocus on the positive,” explains Dr. Ryder. “The key is to refocus on the positive.” While this may prove difficult for some, exercise three may make the task easier.
Close Your Eyes
Step three is more specific than the first two strategies but serves as an important part of the five step process. Dr. Ryder suggests using this technique during highly stressful situations.
Start by closing your eyes very slowly. It should take at least 10 seconds to close your lids completely as this changes the functioning of the brain. Dr. Ryder says you should then try to look as far right as you can with your eyes closed, and then again look as far left as you can for a total of three times each side.Adds Dr. Ryder “Slow down your breathing, get comfortable, imagine something beautiful, and then you can open your eyes, effortlessly.”
Relaxing and Letting Go
“The key to regaining balance is returning to a place where you are relaxed, in the zone, and finding the inner peace,” says Dr. Ryder.
In letting go of what is causing stress, you are allowing your mind to become stronger and healthier.
Escape
The last step to releasing mental stress is to escape. Taking a walk, going to a movie, doing something happy and fun that gets you back to reality can bring the whole five step process full circle.
“When we are stressed out we get caught up in illusions,” says Dr. Ryder. “But we need to think ‘How bad is it? Will it affect me?’ Everything is a cycle and with time will change.”
He adds that the more we can escape the better.
For more information on Dr. Ryder and his book visit his website at www.johnryderphd.com and see how you can get your mind in tip top shape.
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