If you are stressed, you literally are sick and tired. You are in a constant state of hyper alertness.

You feel like your mind can't quit thinking! You're tense, erratic, and feel like you have a hundred things to do all at once, and if you quit thinking about them for one second, you'll forget something.

Or you have a big project due at work, and it's got you on edge.

Whatever it is, long term stress can make you physically ill. Often headaches, stomach pain, back pain or other more serious illnesses are caused by stress.

Although it's impossible to eliminate all stress from your life, you can change your reaction to stress.

It's time for a change, don't you agree?

I finally found a trick that will help you overcome one of the situations that stress causes.

Proper breathing!

Some of the greatest minds in hypnosis agree that one of the easiest and most effective stress reduction relaxation techniques is based on the simple notion of proper breathing.

Most of us are shallow breathers and when we're under stress; our breathing becomes even more erratic and shallow. When you slow down and control your breathing, you immediately reduce your hyper alertness. And in turn you reduce your feeling of stress.

Use this trick to dramatically reduce your stress level:

• Sit or lie down and close your eyes
• Place your right hand on your stomach and your left hand on your chest
• Imagine a blue balloon in your stomach
• Breathe slowly ten times using the following technique:

*breathe in through your nostrils and imagine the balloon filling up in your stomach

*exhale and allow all the air to flow out of your body

*repeat silently to yourself "relax, relax, relax" and say the number ten

Repeat this relaxation technique again by breathing in, filling the balloon, and slowly exhaling, repeating "relax, relax, relax" again and say "9".
Repeat the exercise again saying the number 8 and so forth until you get to number 1.

This exercise should take approximately 3 - 4 minutes.

This simple program of slowing down, breathing deeply and slowly, and repeating relax; will bring you peace and calm. When you combine this breathing exercise on a daily basis along with self hypnosis techniques for relaxation, you are on your way to reducing much of the stress in your life.

For more information on stress reduction and relaxation hypnosis, visit my website.