Topic Overview

In addition to meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises, you might try these other ways to relieve stress.

Ways to relax your mind

• Mindfulness-based stress reduction can calm your mind and body to help you cope with illness, pain, and stress.
• Music therapy can relax your body, improve your mood, and change the pace of your day.
• Humor may reduce stress and boost your immune system.

Ways to relax your body

• Massage, such as a shoulder and neck massage, uses touch to relieve tension. You can see a massage therapist or have a friend or family member give you a massage. You can even give yourself a massage.
• Yoga uses breathing, meditation, and exercises, called postures or poses, that stretch the body. You can do yoga to help you relax.
• Biofeedback teaches you how to use your mind to control skin temperature, muscle tension, heart rate, or blood pressure. All of these things can be affected by stress.

Herbal supplements

Some people use herbal supplements such as valerian, kava, gingko, St. John’s Wort, and chamomile to relieve stress symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia. But supplements like these can be sold with limited or no research on how well they work. Talk with your doctor if you are taking supplements, especially if you have another health condition.