Article: There are quite a few different types of relaxation techniques that you can learn to help with your fear and anxiety. They include, but are not limited to, the following: autogenic relaxation; progressive muscle relaxation; visualization; deep breathing; hypnosis; massage; meditation; tai chi; yoga; biofeedback; and music and art therapy. Autogenic relaxation is a technique where you use visual images and body awareness, while repeating words or terms, to help relax and reduce muscle tension. Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique where you tense and relax each muscle in your body in order to get a sense of what each one feels like in both a tense and relaxed state. Visualization is a technique where you visualize specific settings that make you feel relaxed and calm (i.e. forest, beach with waves, etc.). Deep breathing is a technique where you purposely breathe deeply from your abdomen in order to release tension and reverse hyperventilation. Biofeedback is a technique where you learn to control each of your body's functions, like your heart rate or breathing. When you're anxious or afraid you may react by breathing too quickly and hyperventilating. Hyperventilating can intensify your feelings of anxiety and fear and make the situation worse. Breathing deeply can help you relax, reduce your tension, and make you feel less anxious. Follow these steps to relax using deep breathing: Sit or stand somewhere where you're comfortable and keep your back straight. Put one of your hands on your chest and put your other hand on your stomach. Take one slow deep breath in through your nose while counting to four. The hand on your stomach will rise while the hand on your chest shouldn't move very much. Hold your breath while counting to seven. Exhale through your mouth while you count to eight. Push out as much air as you can using your abdominal muscles. This means the hand on your stomach should move downwards, and the hand on your chest shouldn't move very much. Repeat these steps until you feel calmer and relaxed. Anxious people also tend to be tense, even when they think they're relaxed. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you distinguish between relaxed and tense muscles so you actually know what it feels like to relax. Practice the following steps twice a day until you really feel it working. Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Remove your shoes. Allow your body to go as loose as you can and take 5 deep breaths. Select a specific muscle group to begin with (i.e. your left foot) and focus on those muscles. Work each of these muscles groups: individual feet; lower leg and foot; entire leg; individual hands; entire arm; buttocks; stomach; chest; neck and shoulders; mouth; eyes; and forehead. Take one slow, deep breath while tensing the muscles you've selected for 5 seconds. Make sure you can feel the tension in your muscles before you move on. Allow all the tension to leave the muscles you've selected while exhaling. Pay close attention to how these muscles feels when tense and when relaxed. Stay relaxed for 15 seconds, then select another muscle group and repeat the same steps. Using visualization to relax is exactly what it sounds like you visualize something that you find extremely relaxing in order to reduce your anxiety and reduce your fears. A guided visualization is where you listen to a recording where someone talks you through the process step-by-step. There are many free guided visualizations available online, some with background music or sound effects to help make the process seem more real. Guided visualization recordings will provide the instructions on how to prepare yourself and what to do. They will also vary in length, so you can select the ones that work best for you.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Understand the different types of relaxation techniques. Practice deep breathing relaxation. Perform progressive muscle relaxation. Try guided visualization.