How to relax?

Hi
I really dont know how to relax. Im actually scared of the word. Im scared of relaxing and deep breathing because im scared letting my body loose will give me anxiety. Whenever ive tried deep breathing (3 or 4 times) it has initiated an anxiety attack. I always stay a little tight, always a little scared, fists clenched jaws a little clenched. I need good motivation and techniques to relax. I need to know how you guys do it. And how do you guys distract your mind away from all this.

I am also unable to relax and I understand exactly how you feel. I find myself all the time being tense, and sometimes even have neck twists because of not being able to be relaxed when working on the computer or watching something on TV.

I do manage to relax sometimes but I still struggle. Here are some effective ways to relax that works for me well and I hope for you too:

1. Have a cup of green tea. Instead of turning purple with rage, get green with a cup of herbal tea. Green tea is a source of L-Theanine, a chemical that helps relieve anger . Boil the water, pour it out, and take a soothing sip.

2. Drink chocolate. Just a square (about 1.4 ounces) of the sweet stuff can calm your nerves. Dark chocolate regulates levels of the stress hormone cortisol and stabilizes metabolism.

3. Meditate. No need to go on a retreat to the mountains, five minutes of peace is all it takes to reap the benefits of meditation. Find a comfortable spot in a quiet place, concentrate on your breath, and feel those anxieties start to disappear.

4. Lay your head on a cushion or pillow. There are days when all we really need is a nice, long nap. But it’s not always possible to start snoring in the middle of the office. Try this visualization technique: Lay your head down for a few minutes and imagine the pillow is a sponge sucking up all your worries.

5. Give yourself a hand massage. Massages can be especially helpful for people who spend a lot of time typing on a keyboard. Hands in general can carry a lot of tension. Apply some luxurious lotion and start kneading the base of the muscle under the thumb to relieve stress in the shoulders, neck, and scalp.

6. Rub your feet over a golf ball. Leave the clubs at home and just bring the ball. You can get an impromptu relaxing foot massage by rubbing your feet back and forth over a golf ball.

7. Squeeze a stress ball. On days when you want to strangle a coworker, your BFF, or the driver in the next lane, squeeze a stress ball instead. It’s an easy, portable, and non-violent way to relieve tension.

8. Create a zen zone. Hiding in a bathroom stall might not sound calming, but do make (or find) a space that’s completely free of stress where you can go to relax. Set up a comfortable chair or light some incense and disappear there for a few minutes until the tension dissipates.

9. Look out the window. No spying on the neighbors allowed. When things get hectic, take a five-minute break to do nothing but stare out the window. Looking at nature scenes like trees and public parks can be a lot more relaxing than staring at the TV screen.

10. Stretch. Standing up for a quick stretch can relieve muscle tension and help you relax during a stressful workday. Why not try a shoulder roll-out or a chest-opening stretch right from the desk chair?

11. Smell some flowers. Really, stop and smell ’em. Certain odors can change our mood, and it’s hard to feel angry or upset with a nose full of roses. Keep a fresh jar of your favorite flowers near your work space or in the living room, and take a whiff whenever anxiety strikes.

12. Laugh. Stressed? Me? Ha! Laughter’s one of the sillier ways to beat stress, but there’s science behind it. A fit of hysterics can increase blood flow and boost immunity. Keep a book of jokes handy in the desk drawer or check out a hilarious YouTube video (maybe a piano-playing pug?) for a quick pick-me-up.

Without these relaxing techniques my life would be much stressful. Take your time and implement some of these methods and see what works for you.

Take care!

Wow thanks a lot guys.
Hibee, H. Daniel and Momtogiggiandquinn..
I am definetly going to plan all of your techniques and suggestions tomorrow and do them.
Just reading them are making me calmer i swear.