I tried progressive relaxation before. It did nothing for me. Is there anything else I should try?
There are hundreds of different relaxation techniques. Finding one that is helpful can be like shopping for a new car. There are many to choose from. But you must find the one that suits you best. If you do not find a technique comfortable or helpful, try something else. We discuss several in the next chapter.
Some do best with exercises that involve muscular movement (e.g. progressive muscular relaxation, Tai Chi, yoga). Others find techniques that emphasize deep breathing or mental imagery most soothing. Others create their own approach. One woman told us that she relaxed best by sitting in an easy chair and playing some favorite music. She would take a break every afternoon and sit alone with her music.
There are several reasons why you could find relaxation or other stress management techniques unhelpful. If you expect any approach to eliminate stress from your life, you will be disappointed. In fact, the harder you try the more frustrated you can become. We have no choice but to deal with stress on a daily basis. This are why we refer to stress management, not stress elimination. You may need to examine your expectations.
Another way to ensure that a stress management technique will prove unhelpful is to use it only when you are under great stress. You would not go to a freeway to learn how to drive a car. You would start in an empty parking lot or quiet street. Once you had mastered the basic skills, you would apply your ability to a more challenging situation.
Unfortunately, many will only apply their lessons in relaxation when they find themselves highly stressed. Relaxation is a skill to learn during quiet times. Once mastered, you have a useful skill to apply during times of stress.