Simple Ways to Calm Down
Use these exercises to help your mind and body relax during stressful times
Energy psychology acknowledges the reality that stress affects both our minds and our bodies. If we focus solely on changing our thoughts, our bodies remain anxious. It’s also much harder and takes longer to change deeply ingrained thought patterns than to do things like tap, slow our breathing, or hug ourselves.
I recently watched a webinar about energy psychology, and learned some simple but surprisingly effective calming exercises. You can watch video demonstrations of and download instructions for many of those exercises here.
During the webinar, Psychologist Dr. Robert Schwarz used an interesting analogy. He compared the need to shower daily to the need to use energy psychology exercises every day to wash off emotional dirt. That made sense to me.
It’s important to note that none of the webinar presenters advocated using energy psychology techniques instead of seeking professional help. The exercises are intended to be used as stress reduction tools during a crisis or between therapy sessions.
Presenters also emphasized that the exerices must be done repeatedly, sometimes several times a day. Some people do feel significantly better shortly after they begin using these techniques, but it is unrealistic to expect dramatic results right away.
Have you used energy psychology techniques? If so, which ones? Have they helped you calm down during or after a stressful situation?
I really appreciate you highlighting energy psychology techniques to encourage people to calm down when anxious, and to calm down when angry. I have used these type of energy techniques many times in my life. Recently, three and a half weeks ago I had left hip replacement surgery -it was March 27th, 2023. Prior to the surgery, I saw an energy psychology therapist, because I was worried about how my skin on my hip would react to being cut open. she and another therapist suggested I form a dialogue with my skin, and inform my skin that even though my skin would feel "attacked" that I explain to my skin that my hip and ball socket was deteriorating underneath, and that a surgeon would be replacing that hip ball and socket with a new one that is friendly to human bones. So I did some mediative techniques. Interestingly, when I came to that was the first thing that "woke" up after I came to. I felt a slight stinging sensation in my skin/ at the incision place. I honestly wish now that I had not told the recovery room nurse, because she gave me another hit of a narcotic. I was too groggy to mount an objection. In retrospect the reason I told the nurses was because I was afraid of more pain to follow that stinging sensation. In the past three weeks I have had quite a few conversations and reassuring energy psychology exercises to reassure my skin incision that it will recover and is very much healing. I got off the narcotics within two days after the surgery. I had a session again with an energy therapist. And yesterday I went to a very good acupuncturist, who put needles near my incision which stopped some welts from forming. My incision was achy at first and I couldn't lay on it for two weeks. Now my incision seems reassured, (it doesn't hurt now when I lay on it- and the bandages have fallen off),as well as my hip, and body that I have the ability, and am healing well. Thanks again for letting people know about energy psychology.
Wow, 'washing off emotional dirt' sounds so obvious, but I'd NEVER even thought about it. Thank you so much for this post, Wendi, and for the resources!