Feeling Poorly Today

Sorry to hear that you are feeling poorly today my dear friend, at least you are fortunate enough to have kind, caring daughters to look after you which is a good thing, so at least you are not on your own! I find that a nice warm bath, with my favourite bubbles, and soft music playing in the background works a treat whenever I used to feel stress, especially when I lived with the ex, of course the ex had to be out, I would unplug the phone and turn everything off so I wouldn't be disturbed and I would lay in the bath with Enya in the background and it was bliss, even light some candles and turn off the light for special calming effect. Get well soon dear friend x

Hi there - read your post and thought I would try and help. As a Stress Management Counsellor, I know only too well that stress can have a devastating effect on our overall feeling of wellness. Stress too lowers the immune system and we are much more prone to picking up various viruses etc., which maybe would not normally bring us down too much but when you are under stress, they can flatten you. I do definitely agree that you need to take things easy for the moment until you gain back your energy. As far as the relaxation techniques, I can suggest a few here that I know happen to work well. Firstly, do you have an oil burner in your house - if so, it is quite good to buy some essential oils and dilute them with some water in the burner. Our sense of smell is an important factor in how we feel ie., if you are a coffee drinker and you walk into a lovely coffee house and smell the aroma of freshly ground coffee, there is a feel good factor. Well, there are lots of essential oils on the market today that have calming effects - lavender is a good one, also grapefruit is good for uplifting the spirits in general. Secondly, touch....Is there someone that could give you a nice soothing back and shoulder massage? Ideally with some essential oils but the massage on its own is beneficial. If you would prefer a stranger to do it, then a lot of salons nowadays have a beauty part and you could maybe consider booking yourself in for a wee treat. Thirdly, visualisation.... You can do this in a few different ways. One way is to find a nice quiet spot where you know you won't be disturbed for a while, say 20 mins to half and hour - your sofa would be ideal. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. On each out breath become aware of yourself sinking deeper into the sofa - forceably lower your shoulders and feel your body becoming heavier (as if you've suddenly gained a few pounds!!) Now think of a place where you are at your happiest ie., on a beach on holiday, holding a baby, swimming etc....Recollect a memory when you thought, "Ah...this is wonderful". Visualise this memory - see the colours in it becoming more and more vivid, take yourself back there, feel the air around you - was it sunny? Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Feel a light breeze wash over your face. Try and recollect the smells that were there - keeping on breathing deep and slow. Notice a set of stairs which lead down to a lovely garden - the most beautiful garden ever...Know in your mind that if you were to go into the garden you would have this complete feeling of warmth and relaxation. You want to go to that place so you go towards the stairs. As you stand at the top of the stairs, you again, take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breath out, you go down the first step into this deeper relaxation - become aware of yourself becoming lighter. Feel your arms feeling floaty....enjoy this sensation. Now with another deep breath, you go down the next step, now feeling even lighter..Your hair feels light as if it's lifting off your head, your arms start floating up slightly....Down the next step and you are becoming almost completely relaxed...You are becoming less and less aware now of your body because it is becoming so light, you can hardly feel the step beneath you as if you are hovering on it. Finally, you go down the last step and as you do you are floating in this beautiful garden. You do not need to think about walking, there is no need.....you are as light now as a feather as you float through the amazing colours....When - and only when you are ready, you can turn round to see the steps leading back up. You float on to the bottom step and can begin to sense the step beneath your feet again....Go up the next step and you become more aware of your body......Go up again, and you are now becoming aware that you are on your sofa and you are feeling good, and calm...Go up the last step and you are back in your room. Stretch out your fingers on each hand and relax them - now stretch out your toes and relax them and now slowly open your eyes. I call it the magic journey and it does actually work as I've used it many times. Don't worry if you get distracted in thought, as this can happen sometimes, just try and re-visualise where you are and carry on from where you left off. I'd be keen to know how you get on. Take care

Blah, I've had those days before as well. Cheer up...make sure you are getting plenty of sleep as well. Get better soon!

Worldwise sweety I am so sorry you aren't feeling so good and it is great that your daughters are helping out. I do so hope that you are feeling better. As for relaxation techniques I do use a few which help but these are mainly relaxation for my body and the chronic pain rather than my mind and are quite complicated for me to explain! I also do breathing exercises and try very hard to visualise my happy place! This is different for everyone but can work very well and as well as helping with stress it can also help with pain. i wish I could help more sweety but PLEASE look after yourself and take care! xxx