Stress
Being relaxed is the opposite of being anxious.
Everyone feels anxious some of the time and relaxed at other times, usually there is harmony between the two, sometimes the balance needs adjusting. Listed below are examples of physical & mental signs and symptoms which may be indicative of the existence of heightened levels of stress.
Some symptoms of stress
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Indecisiveness
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Inability to concentrate
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Trouble thinking clearly
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Constant worrying
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Moodiness
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Restlessness
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Short temper
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Over reacting
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Irritability
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Impatience
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Inability to relax
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Feeling overwhelmed
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Depression and unhappiness
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Headaches or back aches
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Muscle tension and stiffness
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Diarrhoea or constipation
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Insomnia
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Nervous habits e.g. nail biting, pacing
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Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
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Picking fights with others
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Bullying others
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Feeling tense and 'on edge'
Breathing
All courses include the most powerful tool available to each and everyone – your breath
Breathing is an important part of every session. The first session includes breath awareness activities; finding out how to have a full flowing healthy breath. In the following sessions you increase your skills using a variety of breathing exercises and guided breathing relaxations/meditations, giving you the confidence to integrate the breath into your day-to-day life.
What are the benefits of breathing 'in the moment'
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Calms the nervous system passing from fight or flight to rest and digest instantly
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Gives more oxygen to the body
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Reduces cortisol; the stress hormone
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Increases oxytocin; the 'feel good' hormone
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Provides an opportunity to relax, energise and re-focus
What are the benefits beyond breathing activity?
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Improved breath awareness and control
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Increased confidence in ability to self-soothe, relax and be calm
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Less impulsive, able to pause, regulate emotions and channel your true nature
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Increased concentration
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The breath is always in the present, teaching the past is gone, the future is imagination and to focus on thoughts, words and actions here and now.
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The exhaled breath; 'letting go' teaches the notion of 'letting go' of negative feelings, unhelpful patterns of behaviour and limiting beliefs.
Playful Breath
Playful breath is an educative body, breathing activity used in sessions with primary-aged children. It is a sequence of body movements combined with deep breathing exercises, devised in collaboration with Sifis A.K. Pagkalinis, a breathing coach, working at Global Breathing Awareness. The programme allows children to master their breath in a fun way, inspired by nature, storytelling, sounds and animal movements. There are two body-breathing sequences, one which used with children with no or very limited body or breath awareness, another for children who have more familiarity with body and breath awareness.