Pain Rehabilitation Center in Minnesota

Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques

Stress and pain affect each other. When a person is in pain, the typical stress of daily life can become much more difficult, often turning common hassles into major obstacles. Stress can also impact pain. Physical reactions to stress such as increased muscle tension can greatly intensify pain. In short, pain causes stress and stress intensifies pain.

Stress management training provided in the PRC program uses coping strategies to break the pain-stress cycle. Taking control of stressful situations can modify the body's "fight or flight" response to stress. There are many coping strategies, and the PRC's stress management classes provide a thorough overview of these strategies.

One very common coping strategy for managing stress is relaxation. Relaxation reduces muscle tension and anxiety, increases self-control and leaves a person feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. The program presents a number of different forms of relaxation and encourages daily practice.