Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, a little anxious, or completely stressed out, relaxation is the antidote to stress. And now more than ever, learning how to relax is as essential to your wellbeing as drinking water or breathing. Using relaxation techniques that work for you can help ease anxiety and soothe your stress.
Stress is an adaptive response that's necessary for human survival. When met with a stressor, your body has a physiological response, and your brain releases stress hormones that allow you the best chance of survival in a life-threatening situation. And it releases the same chemistry whether the stressor is small or large, so even the mild stress of someone cutting you off in traffic causes a whole cascade of hormones that are productive in the short-term, but destructive in the long-term.
Fortunately, you can interrupt the stress response through relaxation, which is healthier for your body, emotions, and mind. How, you ask? Try any of our best ways to relax to soothe acute or chronic stress and get your brain chemistry back on track.