Does anyone know of any relaxation techniques or herbal remedies to relieve nerves and stress? I would appreciate your advice.

Matthew

Weed?

No, seriously I was thinking of stuff like this too. I get so pressurised sometimes. I think the basic things help - eating properly, getting a good night's sleep, cutting out the booze and fags etc...

Bashing seven bells out of a cushion helps in those really fraught moments. Preferably shouting at the top of your voice as you do it.

Thanks, I'll give those two very different ideas a try!

But I'll give the weed a miss!

Good idea!

Alexander Technique.

Before CE says this, have a banana before a performance

what is all this banana business, I've read this a few times now - what it chills you out or summat?

bananas help to calm nerves

Any sort of physical exercise - dance routines, warm-ups, fling-abouts, swimming, walking, whatever you like - then straightaway after, the yoga "corpse" posture for at least 15 minutes. Close your eyes, relax your entire body in stages if you can't in one go (few people can so you won't be alone)! If you're in a gym, go in a backroom somewhere that's quiet. You must have near absolute quiet. Allow your mind a few minutes to roam as it will but bring it round to concentrate on your breathing. When it strays, gently bring it back to the breathing.

Avoid things like soothing music as this may have connotations that don't allow you (mind+body) to relax completely, but music or sea- or rain-sounds are better than distracting noise.

Be sure to allow at least 2 hours after any meal before exercising, especially if aiming to relax.

herbal: without a proper diagnosis this is all I can offer: Make up a mix of equal parts dried, semi-powdered leaves (as you buy from a herbalist's) of passiflora, skullcap and verbena. infuse 1 dessertspoonful with boiling water and allow to cool, stirring occasionally, like you'd make tea in a cup.
After infusing, strain and drink as tea. Twice a day 1, around lunch time and 2, an hour before you sleep. Keep it going consistently for 6 weeks, then take a further 4 weeks break from it.

Also - have your blood-pressure checked. Don't use herbal rememdies if you are taking orthodox medication without asking the dr or qualified herbalist.

Eat the most natural foods you can - your body depends on you giving it the right materials to maintain itself. You are what you eat - and breathe - and how you sleep...etc. Don't forget you need exposure to daylight too.

Try to determine the source of the stress. You may not be able to erase it but reorganise things to reduce it. Even a different attitude of mind can reduce it.

Bach rescue remedy helped to calm me before my driving test...3 prior fails and I passed on the 4th using this! T'ai Chi is also excellent for relaxation..got me through my last year of university with less stress!

Thanks everyone - excellent advice. I'll give all these ideas a try.

I know Elmo would say Reiki which works apparently, though I've never tried it, it sounds cool.

I've just come back from an hour of badminton which normally is really relaxing and destressing though today all I did was get even tenser, have a mild panic attack and get dizzy because of the light (AND they charged us double grr)

aha! See someone's listening to me! If you want some, I can send you some Applies to anyone, since it does me good at the same time! It's a natural healing thing and to quote something I thought summed it up "Energy flows through the body via meridians in a directional flow." So basically it unblocks any blockages there might be in your meridians/energy passages and balances you all out

oooh wow! Yes please! Energy sounds good

Try alternating different tasks. I find going for a walk round the block usually helps. Fresh air really helps. Then I come back to what I was doing and I have can focus better

No probs, you can have some later tonight (just as long as you don't have a pace maker or a re diabetic- doesn't work so well with those!)

I have a very stressful job but seriously, I agree with CE. Eating bananas does calm and de-stress. Drinking a hot cup of herbal/Chinese/Japanese tea does, too.

Not getting enough sleep makes you more stressed. Even if you get 8 hours+ sleep per night your body may still not be getting enough sleep as you may not sleep deeply enough naturally. I had this problem a few weeks ago, went on a course of herbal sleeping tablets and now I get the sleep i need as they have "taught" my body to sleep more deeply.

Thanks. Nope, I'm not either of those.

I think I need to get more sleep! I usually sleep 7 and a half to 8 hours, and usually thats ok, but for the past 4 nights I've been going to bed at about half 11/12 and falling asleep later because I have so much to do then feel tired but can't sleep...anyone else had this? Grr its annoying

For that CPPF, you need to make yourself a cut off point, where you stop work say at 9 each night. If need be get up early and finish it, you will have slept better than if you work late. Trust me with this one, me and my Dad are the worst sleepers on the planet!

Some of my friends do that and they say it works too...but I couldn't stand getting up early! I'll probably try it some day though..
I've heard some people come home from school, go straight to bed, wake up at about 8 and start working

Try meditating once a week-its not as goofy as it sounds. Sit close your eyes, maybe light some insence and/or put some mood music on (nature?) and think of nothing. Listen to the music, take in the smell of the insence.

Lavender bath essence is always good. Just lying in the bath with lavender scent in teh bathroom lit by candles...Just make sure you don't fall asleep though!

I don't think I do get enough sleep - that could be part of the problem. Thanks once again everyone.