Six
Stress-Reducing Principles for People With Chronic Conditions
By Elizabeth E.
Lehmann
1) Get Emotional Support -- Find a support group, a
physician that is personable, psychotherapy, an organization
that promotes activities for persons living with HIV. The goal
here is to feel connected with others who have the
understanding and compassion for what you're confronting.
2) Listen to Self-Help Tapes -- Listen to tapes that are
calming, offer a meditation, or uses guided imagery. Many
people find that these tapes are soothing and offer a time for
centering. Dr. Emmett Miller offers a catalogue of tapes. You
may call 1-800-52-TAPES for more information.
3) Try Meditation -- There are many types of meditation.
Many people find that this is an effective way of quieting and
centering. People can meditate in morning and in the evening.
They find that this is a nice and calming way to begin and end
each day. There are many books available at your local
bookstore on this topic.
4) Connect with Nature -- Nature is all around us. Take a
walk in the park or a trail at Stone Mountain. Being around
mother earth's beauty is sometimes all we need to keep things
in perspective. Just sit and watch!
5) Get Enough Vitamins and Nutrients -- Eating balanced
meals with additional vitamins is recommended as a stress
reducer. Many vitamins help eliminate and fight toxins in our
body. Talk with your physician about what vitamins he or she
would recommend, or call AIDS Treatment Initiatives at
404-659-2437.
6) Establish a Bedtime Routine -- This is a technique that
I enjoy. It helps me "settle down" from the day. I
typically take a bubble bath, drink some herbal tea, and then
read my book before I go to bed. This helps me relax and sleep
better. It is important to get enough rest.
This
article has been provided by AIDS
Survival Project.
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