Stress Management

Types

For managing stress, Mayo Clinic provides or teaches:

Mindfulness: A mind-body technique to achieve an elevated sense of awareness by consciously recognizing and accepting the present.

Meditation: A practice to center and focus the mind using strategies such as concentrating on an object, breathing deeply, repeating a word or phrase, or visualizing a peaceful place. Meditation can be coordinated with movement disciplines such as yoga, tai chi and qi gong. Read more about meditation.

Guided imagery (visualization): A person visualizes calming mental images of relaxing places and situations to cope with emotions, feelings or circumstances. As many senses as possible are incorporated.

Progressive muscle relaxation: The conscious and sequential tensing and release of muscle groups throughout the body to enhance body awareness and to identify and reduce muscle tension.

Deep breathing: Using the diaphragm as a breathing catalyst, you establish a pattern of slower, more efficient breathing. As a result, more oxygen is inhaled and the shoulders, neck and upper chest muscles are used less in the breathing process.

Counseling: Discussion of life and health-related stresses with a medical professional to develop coping skills that address feelings, illnesses and situations.

Hypnosis: A guided method to coax the mind into an altered, relaxed state of consciousness, different from the focused attention of everyday awareness. Hypnosis employs the power of suggestion to control emotions and behavior and enhance physical well-being.

Massage therapy: Rubbing, stroking and kneading the body's soft tissues (muscle, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin) for comfort, healing and pain reduction. Read more about massage therapy.

Acupuncture: Insertion of fine needles in the skin at key points in various combinations to relieve pain and promote healing. Read more about acupuncture.

Yoga: In this mind-body exercise, you assume a series of precise postures while breathing in a controlled manner to settle and relax the mind and body and increase flexibility. Meditation is often done in tandem with yoga.