Visualisation is a useful tool for lowering our stress levels. Like anything new it requires practice but with time and effort from you, this can offer very fast relief from symptoms. Emotional and physical responses can be evoked by images we see and in terms of what a particular image represents to us personally.

I.e. Water can make us thirsty, feel the urge to use the toilet, or shiver with cold. Passing a chip shop may make you hungry. If you have already eaten, you may feel nauseous. This knowledge is empowering as we can now create images to trigger relaxation, calmness, inspiration. There are a range of different techniques which can be used. Below is a simple example of visualisation to get you started.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself standing in a large garden such as A Botanic Garden. What season is it? What flowers or shrubs are around you? What smells are on the air? Are there any squirrels or birds in the garden? What is the weather like and what do the air / temperature mean for your skin? Can you tell what time of day it is? Can you hear music? Is there water running nearby? Are there children in the garden and if so what does the noise they are making suggest to you about what they are doing or how they are feeling? How does the ground feel under your feet? Are you hungry? Can you smell anything which gets your appetite up?

The details you can evoke for yourself are limitless. Set aside an interval of uninterrupted time for you to practise this exercise. Try to involve all of your senses, be creative, persevere, and enjoy!