Stress Affecting Sleep
Q. I am in a high stress job. I exercise at the gym at work at least 3 times a week. I try not to bring work home with me but I am always tense and I have trouble sleeping at night. My mind is racing. Warm milk hasn't worked, bubble baths make me more tense and I don't want to take drugs. Any ideas? Stressed
Dear Stressed,
You are not alone. Stress is one of the main contributors to aging and disease.
It sounds like you have a build-up of stress so it's important to relieve tension at work as well as when you are trying to fall asleep.
 Try this breathing exercise in a seated position and then again as you are lying in bed. It should help relax you and slow down your thoughts.
Start with taking a breath and holding it for three seconds and then exhaling. Repeat and hold for 4 seconds and continue each time holding a second longer until you get to ten seconds.
After the last breath, keep your eyes closed and focus on a peaceful memory. A place or time when you felt most relaxed.
Stay there as long as you can or at night until you fall asleep.
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Send your Moving Free® with Mirabai questions to: askMirabai@movingfree.com.
Be sure to visit Mirabai's Moving Free® website at www.movingfree.com.
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