Stress Relief Games, and Other Techniques to Reduce Stress
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Stress Relief Games -- Make relieving stress into a game, and it's a lot easier
Stress relief games are an important way to coping with stress, and there are many other techniques available to you as well. The way I see it, the techniques that we as individuals use to cope with stress are myriad. We might yell, scream, break stuff, or simply sit down and read a book. Just as each person is different, so too are the methods that they use to cope with the stress of a life that is constantly speeding up.
So lets take a look at what I've managed to dig up. You'll find stress relief techniques, games, and resources on this lens. I hope you find them usefulStress Relief Games
A Short Synopsis
(There's a war on everything else, so stress could probably do with one as well)
Stress is the body's natural reaction to threats, danger, or pressure. It helped our ancestors get their 'flight or fight' response up in time, and probably helped them cope when the going gets tough.
However, in our society, you're not likely to be chased by a lion with overgrown teeth. So why do you still get stressed?
I figure that it's because we still have those old reactions, and we're applying them to new situations. If your boss is breathing down your neck about a deadline, that's still scary, still worrying. So, your body reacts in the only way it knows how. It fires up the old adrenaline system, and lets rip!
The problem comes when we consider how different being chased by a large kitty with teeth, and being yelled at by your boss are. One of them lasts for a few moments, and you're either lunch, or free. The other might last for days, weeks, or even months. Contrary to what you might be thinking, your boss isn't going to make you into lunch, so chances are, you'll be facing him or her again in the future.
Stress Relief Games.
For Big Kids.
Personally, I like This site here because they're easy to find, and free.
However, sometimes it's simply not a great idea to be at the computer! I can't even begin to count the number of times I've got up and walked away from my desk, and found instant relief. Computers, sometimes, are the devil.
So, it might be a good idea to find yourself a book to read, a novel will do fine. However, there are also a number of -wonderful- books out there that deal with the topic of stress. I'm sure that some people will call it 'airy-fairy sissy stuff' but they're wrong folks, just wrong. There is -nothing- sissy about improving your life, your partners life, or the life of your kids.
Finally, there's my often-mentioned suggestion of getting outside and goofing off. Take the kids to a game, play with them. The chances are that if you're -really- feeling stress, they might be noticing it too, and taking that chance to bond with them can only be a good thing.
What is Stress?
The Why and What, sorta
(I figured that there's a war on everything else, so stress could do with one as well)
Stress is the body's natural reaction to threats, danger, or pressure. It helped our ancestors get their 'flight or fight' response up in time, and probably helped them cope when the going gets tough.
However, in our society, you're not likely to be chased by a lion with overgrown teeth. So why do you still get stressed?
I figure that it's because we still have those old reactions, and we're applying them to new situations. If your boss is breathing down your neck about a deadline, that's still scary, still worrying. So, your body reacts in the only way it knows how. It fires up the old adrenaline system, and lets rip!
The problem comes when we consider how different being chased by a large kitty with teeth, and being yelled at by your boss are. One of them lasts for a few moments, and you're either lunch, or free. The other might last for days, weeks, or even months. Contrary to what you might be thinking, your boss isn't going to make you into lunch, so chances are, you'll be facing him or her again in the future.
How To Relieve Stress
5 of my favourite Stress Reduction Techniques
Well, first of all, it's all in your head, Yeah, I'm sure you don't want to hear that. However, Notice how some people go through their day without appearing to get stressed AT ALL? That's because they process the various stressors (events which place stress on us) in different ways.
(And please, don't get me wrong! I'm NOT one of these people. I get stressed, angry, and prodigiously annoyed a lot too! There are simply hints that help me)
1) Change the way you think about situations and events:
Don't use absolute words. What are these?
Things like NEVER, ALWAYS, EVERYONE, and EVERYTHING.
Instead, get into the habit of replacing them with words that are less imposing, less monstrous. For instance, NEVER should become SOME; ALWAYS should become SOME TIMES, or OCCASIONALLY, or even FREQUENTLY. I am sure you can think of others that are absolute, just come up with some alternatives, and start using them. This will help the problems (which cause your stress) seem more manageable. Oh, and also, it'll help when you argue with a loved one. NEVER, and ALWAYS seem to crop up in arguments, it's best to leave them out.
2) Get out!
Do something! or, as they say in N.Y Fugeddaboudit! I know that this is hard, damn is it hard! But try, go outside, for for a walk, do some yard work, or go to the gym. How does this help? Well, for one, physical activity has long been known to produce endorphins, and endorphins make you feel happy! Furthermore, just changing your situation, your circumstances, can really help the way you perceive things. Finally, it'll probably take your mind off of the stressor for a while
3) Meditate.
Yes, I know that you think Meditation and Yoga are for sissies and hippies. That's just not true! So many studies have shown us one important fact about ourselves. This is important, guys!
-YOUR MIND CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING YOU IMAGINE, AND SOMETHING THAT IS REAL.-
Sounds silly, huh? Well, it's not! Athletes now use positive visualization (Like me, I play Ice hockey as a goalie, I visualize making that save), people with phobias use visualization to become more comfortable with their fear, instead of encountering the real thing. And hey, as much as you hate to admit it, you've -all- woken up at some time from a horrid nightmare, and taken a moment to figure out where you are.
So how does this relate to Meditation? Well, Meditation is a form of visualization, combined with trained relaxation of the body. Yoga uses breathing exercises and stretching to achieve the same effect. So go out there, grab a book, or an instructor, and do it! I'll post some of my favorites later!
4) Music.
Alright, I admit it, this one is most certainly my favorite. There have been countless studies done on music and how it affects our brains. Ever heard of the Mozart effect? Well, News Flash, it DOESN'T make you smarter. People scored the same on IQ tests no matter what music they listened to. However! What certain kinds of music DO do, is put your brain into various states. Music of approximately 50-60 BPM (which Mozart's music was, generally) puts us into a more relaxed -and receptive- state of consciousness. People's IQ didn't improve, but their retention of materials did!
and this is why it's my favorite; it simply makes sense! almost everyone that I know will agree with me when I speak about different types of music inducing different states. Think about it. Which is going to relax you more? A piano concerto in C#? Or "The Clash" pounding out "London's Burning?"
As we move from Sleep, to awakening, to all-out stress, our brain waves change. Music has been shown to help us return to a different, more relaxed, level of activity in the brain.
5) Talk to someone.
Once again, I know that some people think talking is for sissies, a girly thing. Better to keep it bottled up inside, right? You're tougher that way. Rubbish! Utter rubbish!
Talk people! Talk! I don't care if it's a bit embarrassing, find someone you trust if you go red in the face. If you don't have friends or family to speak with, try a professional. Shrinks are NOT the devil! (besides, the Devil wears Prada, and my shrink can't afford anything except Rebook).
You remember the funny guy with the fetish for cigars right? Freud something? Found of modern psychology -almost- ? Well, a large part of his theory (much of which we still stick to) is based around a thing called Catharsis. Catharsis is a moment of realization, in which a person suddenly understands something about what is going on. It might be accompanied by a sense of release, or a flood of emotions. How did Freud get people to this point? "Zpeak wid me about yer mathor" or something along those lines...In short, he got people to talk.
So there you have it, my top 5 stress reduction techniques. I use 'em when I feel down, or when I feel depressed. In fact, sometimes I use them when I'm feeling fine. That's because you never know what sort of insight you're going to get.
The way I see it, it's a great skill to learn, this being able to beat stress. But, wouldn't it be better if we -weren't- stressed in the first place? More on that later, though, as I explore, and share, the various things I discover that make my life easier.
-Bedeo
by Bedeo84
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