Chronic Stress Reduction Techniques

Some stress reduction techniques can facilitate long-term chronic stress reduction. There are a few health practices that offer deep healing. These mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques offer long-term relief for highly sensitive people.

Release Stress Reduction Techniques

Release stress reduction techniques are chronic stress reduction techniques that focus on deeply embedded stress blockages in the body. Although they can be used to interrupt stress they generally require a greater time commitment than other options and therefore may not be the first choice for emergency relief. Because energy that is not released become trapped and stagnant in the body, any abuse, trauma or negative experience may stay with a person in spite of their earnest efforts to cure themselves.

Some people are so distressed by severely negative emotional trauma that they resort to drugs and alcohol as a relief from the pain. Many people use affirmations to help themselves but if the affirmations are tackling deeply trapped emotional issues they may have limited effect. Failed attempts at self-healing can lead an individual to feel like a failure when they simply have not found the right method for them. These HSPs may need stress reduction techniques that can support them in a more substantial way than fast interventions.

Chronic Stress Reduction Using Release Strategies

One of the most popular forms of release chronic stress reduction techniques is meditation. There are many forms of meditation and they can be targeted for many different purposes. Some people use meditation as a visualization. Other types of meditation seek to develop concentration and focus and reduce the restless tendencies we all have.

Transcendental Meditation (TM): TM may be one of the best known meditation practices for stress reduction techniques. It was introduced in this country in the 1950’s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is a mantra meditation which means it uses a word to anchor mental activity. TM over time releases blockages to the nervous system and helps an individual to transcend the continual flow of thoughts in the brain that tend to take over our consciousness, thereby helping us to find inner peace. It directly works on the brain and nervous system to reduce stress and improve functioning.  Many HSPs chose TM as a stress reduction technique for themselves.  www.tm.org

Reiki: Reiki like TM is an ancient technique. It is a form of hands on healing  that can be done on someone else and on oneself. Reiki energy is transferred from a trained Master Teacher. Reiki energy is much like a frequency on a radio. There are many energy stations on the radio, including for the healing energy of reiki.

There is a tradition of hand positions that a reiki student learns. The reiki energy enters the body and goes where it is needed. So although the energy comes from the practitioner, the recipient’s need directs the use and result.  Reiki is non harming, has been used to treat many problems and is currently being used in many hospitals. There are many practitioners and styles of reiki, so research is required to find the best teacher. A well trained teacher published their reiki “lineage” showing their teachers and the school of reiki that they learned in. Usui is the traditional reiki. There are newer schools like that of William Rand, www.reiki.org Understanding the differences is important to choosing a great teacher. The Usui organization is here: www.reikialliance.com.   

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) is a precise method for connecting…universal energy with the body’s innate powers of healing. The biological intelligence that marshals the body’s resources to heal a cut finger, help the lungs to breathe or ease the transition into death is amplified by Reiki.

Libby Barnett, Maggie Babb and Susan Davidson, Reiki Energy Medicine: Bringing Healing Touch into Home, Hospital and Hospice, Healing Arts Press, 1996, p. 2

Other Stress Reduction Techniques

There has been a proliferation of healing techniques over the past 50 years.  TM and reiki are two methods that have been around for a very long time and are trusted. However, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with other approaches to see if they would be a better fit. Highly sensitive people are fortunate that the subject of how to deal with stress has been richly investigated and is available for their benefit.