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Visualization

Take time to learn stress management techniques that can help lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Examples of these techniques are deep breathing, imagery, listening to quiet music, meditation and prayer. You may want to try several to determine which works best for you. Try to practice stress management 20 minutes a day for two weeks. After you learn the technique, practice several times a week.

To get you started, try this simple stress management technique.

Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Pretend that you are filling a hollow space deep within your abdomen and in your shoulders.

Use your imagination to go to a very pleasant place. Pretend for a minute that you are sitting on a front porch. Your eyes are closed and you are taking deep breaths. As you breathe, smell the fresh pine trees. You feel a warm breeze blowing and listen to the soft rain on the porch roof and the light rustling of the wind in the trees.

Now, pretend you open your eyes and see beautiful flowers around the porch. You look beyond the flowers and see trees surrounding a lake with mountains in the distance.

The rain stops and a rainbow spreads across the sky. You are peaceful and calm. You take several more deep breaths and feel the clean air flowing into your lungs. You can picture the air flowing around you, giving you energy. Now, open your eyes and return to the world around you.

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Winston-Salem, NC 27157

The information on this Website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. If you have a medical problem or a health-related question, consult your physician or call Health On-Call at 336-716-2255 or 1-800-446-2255.

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Last Modified: 5/16/2008