These conditions add stress of their own and the cycle continues. The antidote to stress is relaxation. To relax is to rest deeply. This rest is different from sleep. Deep states of sleep include periods of dreaming which increase muscular tension, as well as other physiological signs of tension.
Relaxation is a state in which there is no movement, no effort, and the brain is quiet.
Common to all stress reduction techniques is putting the body in a comfortable position, with gentle attention directed toward the breath. Scientists have researched the effects of relaxation and report measurable benefits, including reduction in muscle tension and improved circulation. M.D. In 1934, he wrote You Must Relax about the benefits of his progressive relaxation techniques. Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report recommending these non-drug approaches as the treatment of choice for milder forms of hypertension. Mind and body are connected and must work together, and this should be a powerful asset in treating medical illness.