O2 for Stress Relief

As I write this article, my family is preparing for our first family vacation in years and I'm looking ahead at what's in store. My husband and I, with our four children, will be spending ten hours on the road in a tightly packed minivan. Then after several days of visiting and fun, we get to do it all over again. Somehow, I see some added stress in my future.

We are planning ways to bypass the usual car trip dilemmas. We've laid out the route to our destination, scheduling rest stops along the way. We have activities to keep the little ones occupied and have explained to the older ones that we will be in charge of the radio station choices along the way. We'll carry a cooler stocked with drinks and snacks. All in all, I think we're prepared, but the fact that there will be some jangling nerves is inevitable.

What we really need is a coping strategy for stress. Something that can be done on the run, with limited space, that doesn't require any extra packing. How will we calm ourselves when the whining, complaining and fighting break out?

Breathe.

When you are in a stressful situation, you may notice that you hold your breath or breathe more quickly than normal. Both are natural, involuntary responses to stress that add to its harmful effects.

Fortunately, you can consciously take control of your breathing and use it to your advantage in two ways. First of all, concentrating on your breathing helps to take your mind off of whatever is troubling you at the moment, allowing your mind and body to relax. Secondly, correct breathing increases the production of calming chemicals in your brain, allowing you to put things in perspective.

So, how do you breathe "correctly?" It's all in the diaphragm.