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[Rustysmum]

Am struggling to cope with daily palpitations and constant tension. I just feel like I constantly have too much adrenaline in me and am in a vicious cycle. The ways I used to relax just don't work anymore. I can't find a book I can concentrate on, can't do jigsaws as feel they make the house untidy until they are done. Can't read or watch anything on TV even slightly stressful, can't concentrate long enough to meditate successfully and can't do yoga as have a dodgy back and consultant says it is too much twisting. I do Pilates or aerobics daily and a hot bath helps whilst I am in it but as soon as out it all starts again. If I could just really relax again for a while I am sure it would help. Any suggestions please ladies??

[cubagirl]

 

Every sympathy, some days I just can't relax.  Glad someone else finds TV stressful.  You'd think we'd be able to chill & watch stuff.  How about swimming?  I try & go for a swim a few times per week.  That would be less stressful on your back. However, it can be difficult to chill if you are feeling terribly stressed.  I had to give in & ask GP for help.  I am on Citalopram 1 x 10mg tablet every second day, used to be daily.  It made quite a difference.  Might be worth a visit.

[breeze]

I have found a wonderful new magazine called 'Breathe'.

It's packed with stuff about mindfulness, and techniques for de-stressing your life, including hobbies.

I probably can't post the mags website on here so I will PM you.

p.s. It's not full of useless advertising either.

[Woodlands]

Hi there.
Sorry to know this is a difficult phase for you.
Perhaps try mindfulness meditation......Close your eyes and think of smell and touch.....Lots of stuff on the internet.......its worked for me
Woodlands xx

[dulciana]

Am struggling to cope with daily palpitations and constant tension. I just feel like I constantly have too much adrenaline in me and am in a vicious cycle. The ways I used to relax just don't work anymore. I can't find a book I can concentrate on, can't do jigsaws as feel they make the house untidy until they are done. Can't read or watch anything on TV even slightly stressful, can't concentrate long enough to meditate successfully and can't do yoga as have a dodgy back and consultant says it is too much twisting. I do Pilates or aerobics daily and a hot bath helps whilst I am in it but as soon as out it all starts again. If I could just really relax again for a while I am sure it would help. Any suggestions please ladies??

Hi Rustysmum - goodness, this could have been me writing.  Apart from your back problems ( ), I can identify so much with what you describe.   I've asked for some one-to-one help with my problems, although there's a bit of a waiting list to go on before this happens.  It's just something I think would help me.  Could you look for something like this?   

[Dorothy]

I find walking helps - even just a few minutes in the fresh air makes me feel better.  Also, I have some audio books/dramatizations that I listen to, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep.  Things like Pride and Prejudice or Barchester Chronicles - nothing too exciting but interesting enough to keep my mind off the worry tracks.  I often find I drift off to sleep while listening, which is a bonus!

[CLKD]

Gentle exercise
Having a routine - when very ill I would make a list each evening and tick off during the day so that I could see what I had *actually* achieved

Plan 1 - Sit in a comfortable position
Shoulders down
Sharp breath through the nose - count to 5
Allow breath out slowly through the mouth - repeat 3 times and rest

Initially I couldn't get past 2 counts as my breathing was so rapid

Plan 2 - The other relaxation was taught in ballet class, known as the 'rag doll'.  Standing with feet apart, arms by the side: bend forwards slowly as far as possible then un-curl.  Shoulders down.  Lean L ear as far onto L shoulder as possible.  Return slowly to central.  Repeat on the R - 3 times.  Relax.

Plan 3 - Lay down in a comfy position: stretch toes as far as possible without causing cramp - relax.  Repeat this throughout the body, i.e. calf muscles: tense/relax; thigh muscles: tense/relax.  Concentrating on each set of muscles all the way up the body.  Relax.  Wriggle toes.  Wriggle fingers.  The idea being to concentrate until the brain thinks of nowt else except where you are on the body.  It takes PRACTICE! 

....... and breath.  Singing can also be good as it means the body breaths correctly and not in sharp spurts which can cause anxiety!

[Rustysmum]

Thank you everyone for some wonderful suggestions and the sympathy! It helps just knowing that I am not alone in this .
Thank you breeze for the message. I will definitely give that magazine a try. Unfortunately it says I cannot send messages so could not reply to you personally, but it was very much appreciated.
Am trying everything you have all suggested. Hadn't ever thought of audio books but will be online looking for some of those. The ones that were mentioned re right up my street! Think I might look at a boxed set of Downton Abbey and watch that back to back!
Thank you all so much, and if anyone else has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

[Springchicken]

Hello!
I started to find that everything...noise...traffic....tv....my own thoughts just became toooo much and I just wanted my mind AND body (and spirit)just to calm down and feel warm, light and supple and relaxed.
Deep breathing really helps. Just two or three really good breaths in and a sustained slow controlled out breath. At the same time imagine your body just releasing everything you do not want.
Also.....go on Youtube and have a look for "Linda Hall Meditations". Her voice is wonderful. Her relaxation meditations are amazing. They are short and powerful, sensible and very grounding, and gentle. A 5 minute relaxation with Linda Hall feels as though you have been tucked up in bed with a warm soft blanket by someone who cares. Bliss. Also, there are 2 free downloads eg for your mobile phone, so you can plug in with earphones on the bus / train etc and have a short relaxation whenever you want.
I hope that is of some help
All the best
xx

[Rustysmum]

Sspringchicken you describe me perfectly! I hope this feeling eventually went away for you? And will do for Me ! That is a great suggestion thank you. Are the free downloads from her website or also on youtube? Have to go for a CT angiogram this afternoon and would be great to have something to play on my phone in the car to calm me. Hubby is driving I hasten to add so not a problem!

[Springchicken]

Hi Rustysmum
RE LINDA HALL RELAXATION MEDITATION. yes, you can download from her website...straight onto your phone (my phone is 2 - 3 years old and it downloaded ok).
The free ones are two shortish ones...about 6 - 9 mins long.
I have been doing short daily relaxation sessions for almost 2 months now and I can say without any exaggeration that I really do feel the benefits in a big, and very gentle way. Subtle at first.
Even with our busy lives, we can all make time and take 5-10 minutes to just stop. Just "be". Switch off all media. Be firm and assertive with people who demand attention.  Have that time for YOU. Soooooo important.
Continuing with short daily relaxation / meditation is one of the very best things I have ever done for myself. It is not an immediate on the spot remedy for solving problems that we all face in life, but it makes your mind and body calm. You feel more able to cope. Less agitated. More in control of your own life. It breaks that horrible stress cycle. Your physical self will feel and look better. Your mind will feel calmer. It is starting to help with my dodgy memory that the menopause brought!
Seriously, give it a go....and stick with it. There are no negatives with this and you can visualise whatever you choose to when you do relaxation!
Be patient with it and remember to tell yourself good and positive things about yourself.
I really hope that this is of some help to you and that you can break that dreadful cycle of stress that feels so awful.
All the best!
x
p.s sometimes when I plug in my little earphone to listen to a relaxation thingy, I can still hear background noise..eg barking dogs, traffic etc and it is a bit distracting. I bought some cheap "ear defenders"...the type of thing that people wear when using power drills. I just put these on over the top of my earphones. Perfect!!!!! You can buy them fairly cheaply in the market etc.

[CLKD]

We have a thread about noise on here somewhere ......... 

bumped it

[Rustysmum]

Thank you for that Springchicken and the ear defenders are a great idea.
I also tried the Tibetan singing bowls on YouTube today and found that amazingly soothing. Thank you all!