Anxiety Relief ‘Toolbox’ – Meridian Techniques That can Bring Relief from Anxiety in Less than Three Minutes!
Anxiety Relief ‘Toolbox’
Click here to see a guide with illustrations to support the above video
6 Pressure Points for Anxiety Relief
1. Hall of impression point
The hall of impression point lies between your eyebrows. Applying pressure to this point is said to help with both anxiety and stress.
To use this point:
- Sit comfortably. It can help to close your eyes.
- Touch the spot between your eyebrows with your index finger or thumb.
- Take slow, deep breaths and apply gentle, firm pressure in a circular motion for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Heavenly gate point
The heavenly gate point is located in the upper shell of your ear, at the tip of the triangle-like hollow there.
Stimulating this point is said to help relieve anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
To use this point:
- Locate the point in your ear. It might help to use a mirror.
- Apply firm, gentle pressure in a circular motion for two minutes.
3. Shoulder well point
The shoulder well point is in your shoulder muscle. To find it, pinch your shoulder muscle with your middle finger and thumb.
This pressure point is said to help with relieving stress, muscle tension, and headaches. It can also induce labor, so don’t use this point if you’re pregnant.
To use this point:
- Find the point on your shoulder muscle.
- Pinch the muscle with your thumb and middle finger.
- Apply gentle, firm pressure with your index finger and massage the point for four to five seconds.
- Release the pinch as you massage the point.
4. Union valley point
You find this pressure point in the webbing between your thumb and index finger.
Stimulating this point is said to reduce stress, headaches, and neck pain. Like the shoulder well point, it can also induce labor, so avoid this point if you’re pregnant.
To use this point:
- With your index finger and thumb, apply firm pressure to the webbing between the thumb and index finger of your other hand.
- Massage the pressure point for four to five seconds, taking slow, deep breaths.
5. Great surge point
The great surge pressure point is on your foot, about two or three finger widths below the intersection of your big toe and second toe. The point lies in the hollow just above the bone.
This pressure point may help to reduce anxiety and stress. You can also use it for pain, insomnia, and menstrual cramps.
To use this point:
- Find the point by moving your finger down straight down from between your first two toes.
- Apply firm, deep pressure to the point.
- Massage for four to five seconds.
6. Inner frontier gate point
You can find the inner frontier gate point on your arm, about three finger widths below your wrist.
Stimulating this point may help to reduce anxiety while also relieving nausea and pain.
To use this point:
- Turn one hand so your palm faces up.
- With your other hand, measure three fingers below your wrist. The point lies here, in the hollow between the tendons.
- Apply pressure to the point and massage for four to five seconds.
Just keep in mind that these studies also suggest that acupressure seems to provide temporary, not long-term, relief from symptoms. Make sure to keep up with all other stress management, therapy, or other treatments prescribed by your doctor while trying acupressure.
Know when to see a doctor
While acupressure may provide some temporary relief from anxiety symptoms, there’s not much evidence that it’ll help with long-term anxiety.
If you find that your anxiety symptoms are making it hard to go to work or school or interfering with your relationships, it may be time to talk to a doctor or therapist. Concerned about the cost of therapy? Here are therapy options for every budget.
You should talk to a doctor or therapist if you start to experience: feelings of depression – thoughts of suicide – panic attacks – trouble sleeping – headaches – digestive problems.
The bottom line
Acupressure can be a helpful tool for temporarily managing anxiety symptoms, but there’s not enough evidence to support its use as a treatment for ongoing anxiety. Still, using these pressure points in instances where you’re feeling particularly stressed or anxious can help.
Just make sure to keep up with any other treatments recommended by your doctor and reach out to them or a therapist if your symptoms become more severe or start interfering with your day-to-day life.
Reproduced in part from https://www.healthline.com/
Delta Sleep Frequency Binaural Beats – Zone out for a while into deep relaxation and feel that anxiety just slip away. You’ll feel so much better after too!
When we are in the delta stage we reduce stress hormones such as cortisol. A few minutes of allowing our brain to tune into delta (sleep) waves can help to decrease overactivity and stress of anxious thinking.
Interestingly, Researchers have studied the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and have found that cortisol is highest in the first hour of waking for people with an increased level of stress in their lives. This helps explain why you may experience an increase in anxiety in the morning.
Note: Listen with headphones or earphones. There are many other Delta Binaural tracks on YouTube with a choice of different background music or just pure tones if this one is not to your taste!
Soma Breath Meditation (Not a Meridian Technique)
Soma Breathwork Is based on Pranayama techniques and backed by science. It activates the parasympathetic system, improves your heart coherence (heart rate variability), increases stem cells and feel good chemicals in your body (nitric oxide, seratonin and DMT). This is a good introductory practice and is only eleven minutes long once you’ve listened to the introduction.
This is also a useful and simple method for your anxiety relief toolbox! (Not a meridian technique)
Follow the 3-3-3 rule.
Look around you and name three things you see. Then, name three sounds you hear. Finally, move three parts of your body — your ankle, fingers, or arm. Whenever you feel your brain going 100 miles per hour, this mental trick can help center your mind, bringing you back to the present moment.
Taken from here, along with other advice. Managing and Reducing Anxiety
