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Ways to Reduce Stress
Overview
Meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises are common methods people use to relieve stress. You can also try these other ways.
Ways to relax your mind
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction can calm your mind and body to help you cope with illness, pain, and stress.
- Music therapy can relax your body, improve your mood, and change the pace of your day.
- Humor may reduce stress and boost your immune system.
Ways to relax your body
- Massage, such as a shoulder and neck massage, uses touch to relieve tension. You can see a massage therapist or have a friend or family member give you a massage. You can even give yourself a massage.
- Yoga uses breathing, meditation, and exercises, called postures or poses, that stretch the body. You can do yoga to help you relax.
- Biofeedback teaches you how to use your mind to control skin temperature, muscle tension, heart rate, or blood pressure. All of these things can be affected by stress.
Herbal supplements
Some people use herbal supplements such as valerian, kava, gingko, St. John's Wort, and chamomile to relieve stress symptoms like anxiety and insomnia. But supplements like these can be sold with limited or no research on how well they work. Talk with your doctor if you are taking supplements, especially if you have another health condition.
Learn more
- Biofeedback
- Humor Therapy
- Massage Therapy
- Meditation
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
- Music Therapy
- Shoulder and Neck Massage
- Stress Management: Doing Breathing Exercises
- Stress Management: Doing Progressive Muscle Relaxation
- Yoga
Herbal supplements
Talk with your doctor about supplements, especially if you have another health condition.
Current as of: June 24, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
