Deep Breathing: An Effective Tool for Stress Relief--by Katherine McPherson

Sometimes relaxing is much easier said than done. We all know that stress is part of life, and that if it goes unchecked, it can be destructive to your health. Helpguide.org states:

When stress overwhelms your nervous system your body is flooded with chemicals that prepare you for “fight or flight”. While the stress response can be lifesaving in emergency situations where you need to act quickly, it wears your body down when constantly activated by the stresses of everyday life. The relaxation response puts the brakes on this heightened state of readiness and brings your body and mind back into a state of equilibrium.

Fortunately, there are ways to intentionally help your body relax, and deep breathing is a powerful tool to do this. The Pioneer Woman has an excellent post on how to effectively do soft belly breathing. Check it out here.

See other information from Helpguide.org on effective ways we can all use to reduce stress here.