Caregiver in Pittsburgh PA
For family caregivers, stress can be a part of everyday life. While it is normal to experience stress from time to time, chronic stress, or stress that occurs very frequently, can lead to health problems. It is not unusual for family caregivers to experience chronic stress. Caring for another can lead to worrying and anxiety, and having many tasks and responsibilities can cause caregivers to feel overwhelmed. For these reasons, it is important for caregivers to actively engage in activities they find relaxing in order to beat stress and bring back peace of mind. For some, activities such as exercising, drawing, or cooking can be relaxing, but others may find peace in very intentional relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can be very effective when they are done consistently. If you are a caregiver looking to learn more about the relaxation techniques you can try at home, read on to learn more about a few tried and true techniques.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation can be very effective for those who feel their stress as pain in the body such as in the form of headaches, muscle pain, etc. To do progressive muscle relaxation, it is good to set aside about 15 minutes of quiet time. Then, you focus on each muscle group individually and tense it up for 5 seconds, then relax it for 30. Repeat this process until you’ve tensed and relaxed every muscle group in your body.
Visualization
Practicing visualization is like going on a mental vacation. Again, you should set aside about 15 minutes of quiet time in order to complete this technique. For visualization, close your eyes and imagine that you are in a place that makes you feel calm and happy. For some, this is a beach, a quiet meadow, or in a field of flowers. Try to block out any distracting thoughts and concentrate on the senses. Aside from the visual image, try to imagine what your calming place smells like, feels like, and sounds like, too.
Deep Breathing
Deep breathing can be done in conjunction with other relaxation techniques or it can be done on its own. The deep breathing technique encourages you to focus on your breathing instead of on the stresses of the world around you. There are many different ways to practice deep breathing, but many involve breathing deeply and rhythmically with eyes closed and as few distractions as possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Pittsburgh, PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368?pg=2
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