Relaxation Techniques

Excerpt

Relaxation techniques are therapeutic exercises designed to assist individuals with decreasing tension and anxiety, physically and psychologically. Strategies to assist patients with relaxation have long been a hallmark component of psychotherapy; however, they can be utilized throughout healthcare environments as complementary therapies to treat patients experiencing various types of distress, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, pain, and stress. Relaxation techniques encompass an array of strategies to increase feelings of calm and decrease feelings of stress. Feelings of stress can include physiological responses such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, and muscle tension, along with the subjective emotional experience; and relaxation techniques can aid in the reduction of these symptoms. Many variations of relaxation strategies exist and can be facilitated by a variety of health professionals and learned via self-help.