Use Your 5 Senses to Manage Stress Levels

Use Your 5 Senses to Manage Stress Levels PTSD Coping Print Use Your 5 Senses to Manage Stress Levels By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Updated on January 22, 2020 PeopleImages.com/DigitalVision/Getty Images More in PTSD Coping Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Related Conditions PTSD and the Military In This Article Table of Contents Expand Importance of Self-Soothing Touch Taste Smell Sight Sound Implementing These Strategies View All Back To Top When you are upset, it is important to have ways of coping with stress. There are many ways to relieve stress and among them are what we sometimes call self-soothing skills or techniques. These are simple things that you can do wherever youre at that can bring calm to your mind and body. Why Are Self-Soothing Skills Important? Coping strategies are diverse, just like the people who rely on them. When stress and anxiety hit, its a good idea to have a few skills ready to help you find relief. For example, seeking out social support can be an excellent way of improving your mood. However, symptoms of PTSD, such as unpleasant memories or thoughts about a past traumatic event, can sometimes occur unexpectedly. It is times like these when social support may not be readily available. Therefore, it is important to learn coping strategies that you can do on your own. Coping strategies are focused on your emotions and often described as self-soothing or self-care coping strategies. The most effective strategies involve one or more of the five senses â€" touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. Lets take a look at some self-soothing techniques you can try for each sense. The Soothing Aspects of Touch Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it is very sensitive to external stimulus. This makes it a powerful tool in your ability to relax, unwind, and find relief from the stress that youre feeling. Water is one of the ways that you can feel instant relief. That can come from soaking in a warm bath or going for a swim. Likewise, you can give your skin a warm touch by simply sitting in the warmth of the sun or changing into your most comfortable clothes. Among other things, you might try are taking a few minutes to stretch your musclesâ€"possibly through a few simple yoga poses or tai chi movementsâ€"or getting a massage. Even taking a few minutes to play with and pet an animal can be amazingly beneficial to your mood. The Tastes That Can Soothe While its best to try not to turn to food for comfort all the time, there is something to be said about its effects on mood. Many of us have learned that hunger can lead to irritability and this can impact stress levels as well. Rather than turning to junk food to make yourself feel better, try sucking on hard candy or sipping a cup of soothing herbal tea. You may also find ease in a comforting meal. Try to include healthy foods so you maintain a healthy body as well as a healthy mind. The Refreshing Power of Smell A number of research studies have looked into the positive benefits of aromatherapy. It is often one of the recommended natural treatments for people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and problems with sleep. For instance, one study found that intensive care patients with anxiety slept better after inhaling lavender essential oil.?? In a meta-analysis of various clinical studies, researchers found that aromas can play a positive role in stress management.?? There are many ways you can take advantage of soothing scents. Browsing a flower shop or spending time literally smelling the roses in a garden can brighten your mood. Likewise, simply stepping outside and taking a deep breath of fresh air can provide instant stress relief. Lavender, vanilla, bergamot and a number of other fragrances have proven to reduce stress as well. You can get these through scented candles, aromatherapy diffusers with essential oils, or a variety of other products. Take Your Mind off It With Sight Distractions can be a good thing, particularly when your mind is stuck on your stress triggers. Sometimes its best to just find something amusing or interesting to look at.   Some of the techniques you might use include reading a good book or simply watching the clouds pass by. You can also entertain yourself by watching a funny movie or television show. Many people also find it beneficial to reflect on happy times or hopes and dreams. You might want to look through pictures of your loved ones or a past vacation that was filled with fun and joy. Of course, you can also daydream about places you want to visit. Look for things around you that make you smile and its likely the stress will dissipate. Relax With Sound Your sense of sound is just as effective as the rest in setting you up for a positive emotional state. Music therapy has become a recommended treatment for people with depression, anxiety, and stress. No matter where you are, you can feel these effects by listening to relaxing music or singing to yourself.?? You might even try saying  positive statements to yourself as a verbal form of self-encouragement. Some people have also found that playing a musical instrument or learning how to play one has helped them reduce their stress. Putting These Strategies to Work When engaging in these strategies, make sure to focus completely on the task at hand. That is, be mindful of your senses and what you are experiencing. Anytime you are distracted, simply bring your attention back to what you are doing. Come up with your own self-soothing strategies that you can do when you are upset. Try to list as many as you can. The more you have at your disposal, the better off you will be in improving your mood when you are experiencing distress. How Proper Self Care Can Reduce Your Stress Levels