PSY 707 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Somatic Nervous System, Tension Headache, Relaxation Technique
Document Summary
When stressed, sns & hpa axis is activated (fight/flight) so targeting maladaptive automatic thoughts may reduce stress reducing activation of fight/flight response. Relaxation targets physical rxns therefore activating the parsympathetic nervous system. Relaxation: absence of anxiety & muscle tension, resulting in feelings of peacefulness. Deep relaxation are techniques used at reducing physiological arousal. There are a number of physiological benefits due to relaxation, eg. lowers bp, pos effects on respiratory system, lowers hr & relieves muscle tension (ppl tend to carry stress somatically, ie. tension headaches). These set of techniques are used in various interventions. A deep relaxation technique that consists of tensing & relaxing diff muscle groups. Person learns muscle self-awareness, ie. the ability to recognize a tense muscle from a relax one. As you are tensing the muscle & releasing it, it results in elongation of muscle fibers which is relaxing.