Many people can find it difficult to juggle life’s many demands. It is common for people to feel overwhelmed or anxious at times, and this can make it difficult to relax. People who are going through a diagnosis of or treatment for illness or injury may experience added stressors related to their health.
Many of these people therefore find it difficult to relax. You might feel your body is restless or you struggle to sit still. You might find your mind feels like it’s in overdrive and that you are finding it hard to “switch off.” This is a normal reaction and there are ways to manage this that can help you feel better in time.
Relaxing everyday activities, for example:
- Physical exercise
- Reading
- Listen to music
- Watching TV
- Go to the cinema
- Do something creative
- Visiting friends or relatives
- Have a bath
Below are two relaxation recordings that can be used each day to help manage anxiety and stress, to feel more relaxed and to improve sleep. They should NOT be used in the car.
Further reading
Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman
