Manage My Stress

Most parents are nervous about their kids entering their teenage years. We feel sad and anxious to see our kids begin to lose the innocence and wonder of childhood. The innocence and wonder that seem to fade in the rush of raging hormones, peer pressure, and newly born streaks of independence. And then all of a sudden, we as parents are faced with learning how to raise teenagers.

And it’s very different than anything we’ve faced.

We look back and remember our own adolescent antics and how we rebelled against our parent’s authority. We remember the stupid mistakes we made, the poor choices we made, and all the things that - looking back - we wish we would’ve done differently. We don’t want our kids to make the same mistakes.

But as much as we try to teach them, we also know that they will make their share of bad decisions, dumb mistakes, and regretful choices. We just hope and pray that they survive the journey without too many scars.

We wish there was a definitive parent handbook that would show us how to deal with teenagers. The right times to push. The right times to back away and give them space. When to punish. How to punish. We seek out other parents to compare experiences in the hopes of finding better ways.

There’s never a doubt that we want what’s best for our children, but what are we supposed to do when we lose our patience and get sucked into yet another argument about friends, clothes, or the car? Is there any hope of ever having another enjoyable family vacation? How do we know when our teenager just has the blues and when he or she is clinically depressed? If it’s the latter, what are the skills involved in parenting troubled teens?

There is no one way to raise children, especially teenagers. Every parent is different. Every child is different. The key in learning how to raise teenagers is to recognize that they are coming into their own and need to explore their freedom and express themselves. They will make mistakes. As parents we just need to help them through in one piece. Protect them. Love them.

Are you having difficulties in relating to and parenting your teen? Click here to learn more about how to raise teenagers. This is especially helpful for parents that are experiencing family stress centering on troublesome teens.

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Posted under Dealing With Teenagers

One of the most popular stress relaxation techniques is the use of music as a calming influence. The right stress relief music can soothe and comfort a frantic mind. Yoga meditation music, for example, allows practitioners to achieve enhanced levels of relaxation and focus.  Binaural beats are another form of audio stress relief.  In this article we will explain the science of binaural beats and how they work to “entrain” the brain.  We will also show you where you can try some free binaural beats to see if they work for you.

Brain Science 101

Our brains emit electrical impulses, or brain waves, that can be recorded and measured.  Extensive studies have led to scientists being able to associate certain brain wave activity with specific states of mind.  They essentially have been able to map out brain wave patterns and match them to particular moods or states of mind.

Scientists have also determined that audio stimulation is the most direct and effective way to affect brain wave behavior.  Different audio frequencies actually change the brain wave patterns that are emitted.  When the brain wave patterns change, our moods or state of mind changes as well.

Directly train the brain with binaural beats

Specific audio frequencies that can modify brain wave activity are too low to be picked up by the human ear.  But by using binaural beats, these frequencies can be “fed” to the brain through ordinary headphones.  Binaural beats are produced when two different tones are played, one to each ear, thus causing the brain to have to “reconcile” the two inputs.  This produces a mixed third tone called a binaural beat, which can be targeted to produce desired brave wave activity.  It’s similar to changing a radio station from one type of music to another.

Stress Relief Music

Holothink has taken the science of binaural beats a step further by producing a series of audio programs called Totally Tranquil that incorporate binaural beats.  Using the technology, they have been able to design audio recordings that will enhance mood, increase mental focus, and even train your brain to improve reactions to stress and anxiety.  When you listen to the recordings, you will hear relaxing music.  But beneath the music are the tones that produce the binaural beats.

Sounds like self hypnosis or something.  Does it work?

Binaural beats and their effects are based on real science.  So even though it sounds like new age hokum, I was interested in trying the Holothink program.  I downloaded the program and dropped the recordings into my iPod.  Using headphones is required to ensure that each ear gets the appropriate underlying tone to produce the resulting binaural beat tone.

My first experience listening to the Holothink Totally Tranquil program was just after spending a tense hour in Dallas rush hour traffic.  Bumper to bumper traffic tends to leave me a little stressed, so it was a perfect opportunity.  About half way into the listening session I began to notice a definite sense of calm coming over me.  It’s hard to explain, but I actually felt my body slowing down and becoming relaxed.  But at the same time, I was mentally alert and focused.

Just to put it simply, the recording did seem to help remove the tension and agitation I was experiencing after my bout with traffic.  Since then I have created several iPod playlists each focusing on a different Holothink program.

One for relaxation, another for mental focus, and another for energy.  It’s pretty amazing what a change in your brain wave patterns can do in terms of mood, energy, and focus.

There is a series of Holothink demos where you can try out some free binaural beats.  I would encourage you to take advantage of the demos to see if binaural beats can be one of the stress relaxation techniques you can rely on.  In addition, Holothink offers a Digital Sandman package that is great for helping with insomnia.

CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE TOTALLY TRANQUIL DEMO

Technorati Tags: free binaural beats, Stress Relief Music

Posted under Stress Relief Music