Practice releasing physical tension
#20. Letting go. Sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes and conduct a tension check throughout your body. Start with your feet and move up. If you feel any tension, try the "Tense-Release" combo with the muscle group. When you release, let all the tension in the muscle go. Do the combo several times, letting more tension go each time. If you have intrusive thoughts like "This sure is stupid" or "I'm not getting anywhere with this," let the thoughts float by and return to the focus on your body. Pay particular attention to your neck, jaw, and face, areas often affected by tension. Be aware of your breathing while you do this.

Record your observations in your journal.

Chronic tension can thicken the fascia where a muscle connects to the bone and prevent the muscle from relaxing no matter how much we might try. A visit to a professional physical therapist who can do deep muscle massage might be worth a try. If you become adept at releasing physical tension, visit your doctor if you are taking regular medication. A change in your overall level of stress can affect the potency of some medications.