Managing Stress

By Christopher Clark, Executive Director, N.A.M.E.D.

All people can benefit from practicing stress management techniques that reduce physical tension, induces a calming effect, and helps in thinking clearly.  Those with eating disorders and their caregivers would benefit substantially from practicing stress management techniques.

Individuals with eating disorders develop eating disorders as a negative way of coping with internal conflict and stress in their lives.  Yet the eating disorder has a way of perpetuating even more stress.  Therefore, people with eating disorders would greatly benefit from using relaxation techniques, a healthy alternative to dealing with stress.

 Those with eating disorders usually have a strong need to regain the control they feel they have lost.  Practicing stress management techniques would help these individuals feel more in control and empowered to heal.

Here are three stress management techniques you can use.  First, practice deep breathing exercises.  Get into a comfortable position.  Breathe slowly, but deeply.  Inhale air  through your nose as you silently count to 5, and then exhale through your mouth on a count of 5.  Be aware of how your abdomen rises as you inhale and sinks as you exhale.  Repeat this many times.

Another good relaxation technique is imagery, where you either listen to a guided imagery tape or create your own scenario.  Tune your senses into what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.  Be totally immersed into the scene.

A third relaxation technique is to repeat a word, phrase, a short scripture verse, or even a nonsense word that has no meaning.  Block all other thoughts from your mind and concentrate solely on the word or phrase as you repeat it.

Find what stress management techniques work best for you, and practice them often, in order to achieve inner peace and less stress.

Respond to this Article

More News >>