Stress Management: Doing Progressive Muscle Relaxation

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Introduction

Have you ever had an aching back or pain in your neck when you were anxious or stressed? When you have anxiety or stress in your life, one of the ways your body responds is with muscle tension. Progressive muscle relaxation is a method that helps relieve that tension.

Key points

• In progressive muscle relaxation, you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out. You work on your muscle groups in a certain order.
• When you first start, it may help to use an audio recording until you learn all the muscle groups in order. Check your local library or a bookstore for progressive muscle relaxation audio recordings.
• If you have trouble falling asleep, this method may also help with your sleep problems.

 What is progressive muscle relaxation?

 Why try progressive muscle relaxation?

 How do you do progressive muscle relaxation?

 Where to go from here

If you want to try other relaxation techniques, see:

Stress management: Breathing exercises for relaxation.

Stress management: Doing guided imagery to relax.

Stress management: Doing meditation.

Stress management: Practicing yoga to relax.

Stress management: Relaxing your mind and body.

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Last updated:	May 21, 2008
Author:	Merrill Hayden
Reviewed By:	Catherine D. Serio, PhD - Behavioral Health, Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Katy E. Magee, MA, Michele Cronen