I also believe relaxation is a method of releasing stress. Stress is held in the muscles and causes tension, releasing this tension will in turn release endorphins which will make you feel better (Exercise also does this) and is also shown to reduce levels of Cortisol (another stress chemical) and Noradrenaline.
I am a big advocate of the idea that we create and maintain our own reality, yet we make the habit of making external attributions and place the blame of all the bad things in our lives on other people. I do not believe tranquilisers help at all, I suffered from anxiety and took a calming medication which in turn made me act very strangely, all it really did was get rid of the symptom and not the cause- the cause was my own inertia, that is not the inability to change my life, but my unwillingness to change my life due to my social commitments and my worrying what others will think......
Now I try and live the way I want to live and take action instead of worrying what could be, I step forward, make a choice and find out what is.
But stress is far worse than just a feeling, it can cause all sorts of illnesses and make already present illnesses considerably worse. It is also far more than just a chemical there is a psychological component to it as well. The adrenaline is not the cause, it is an effect- brought about by an external stimulus, the external stimulus most probably also causes other effects, psychological in nature. The feeling we percieve as stress is (nor)adrenaline and cortisol, but the adrenaline itself is a physiological response to the actual cause of the problem, which often involves an external stimulus and an internal thinking process. This is why tranquilisers are not a cure, they deal with fixing the symptoms and not solving the problem.
Of course some forms of stress can be "eased" by relaxation! Everybody will feel some sort of stress in modern living.But really severe stress would not be eased by relaxing!
For instance,a domestic situation that cannot be resolved, can, and often does,cause severe stress. Another example would be a serviceman under heavy fire, and cannot fire back at the enemy. The stress caused by this is enormous! And often leads to the severest stress of all; Anxiety Neurosis. (In old wars this would be called "shell shock") And it is incurable, though "eased" by medication.
So, there is nothing simple about stress, even though some forms of it may be simple!
There is a saying, "you are only as sick as your secrets". Im not saying vomit up everything in your life that you felt a shred of guilt for to whatever ear is around. Everyone needs someone they can talk to who can listen abjectively and give support at the appropriate time. Without fear that the person is going to talk to others about you. Keeping in mind that humans are fallable and secrets shared are never guarenteed to be safe. You have to weigh the consequences/benefits. Communication is key.
Sleeping is a VERY good relaxation technique. It can help with headaches and moodiness. It doesn't stop the problem, but it's a much better cute for the symptoms than a pill. A lot of the world today is a part of a drug oriented society. And psychiatric therapy can work great, too.
