czar
@czar
i am guilty of this a lot. a lot. i actually do not internalize what people really mean when they say, "I want to relax" - like what happens physiologically when you relax? can someone talk me through their experience of relaxing? I know i am missing this part of life completely. want to change.
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androidsixteen
@androidsixteen.eth
I think the first step is recognizing that you're not in the state that you want to be, so want to acknowledge that. A lot of people don't know they're stuck in tension In terms of what it means physiologically -- it fundamentally means that your parasympathetic nervous system is activated. Meaning your body has shifted into a state of less arousal and less need to be "ready to go" For me, the way this manifests physically is less thoughts, slower heartbeat, less sweating, and more of a desire to lounge or sleep Some tactics that help enter and stay in this state that have been effective for me: - reducing caffeine intake - +1 to @downshift.eth's suggestion of walks - a morning walk regulates me a lot - catching myself when I'm excessively ruminating -- particularly good to watch out for thoughts that focus on "I" or "me" - sleeping more - magnesium baths / supplements - pilates
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SQX
@sqx
A nice massage usually helps.
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marlo
@marlo
i’ve never been good at relaxing. there’s always too much guilt/shame/anxiety. working on healing old trauma helps though. seeing myself in a more compassionate way one thing that sometimes helps is imagining i have perfect and kind parents, then imagine them talking to me… “you don’t need to prove yourself, you deserve to relax and feel your best” etc until my nervous system lets go my perspective of myself has been totally warped in a bad way so anything to see myself the way i’d see a friend, or myself as a kid, is useful
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downshift - μ/acc
@downshift.eth
for me, minimizing outside sensory input (with the exception of calming music), breathing exercises + mindfulness even brief breathing exercises have a measurable impact on the nervous system and walks
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