Toolkit - Biofeedback

Posted by Jerry Lopper Sep 11, 2006

Welcome to Personal Development Toolkit, a new feature appearing every Monday. Each week, Personal Development Toolkit will feature a one word tool you can use to construct additions to your personal growth and development. Each week's toolkit will include a brief description of the tool and a suggestion for using it.

Biofeedback: The conscious control of a bodily function.

Example: Jeremy had a very stressful job, but learned to control the impact on his blood pressure through biofeedback. He got a home blood pressure kit and practiced breathing slowly and deeply while monitoring his pressure readings. Soon, he found he could lower his blood pressure when stress overtook him at work by focusing on deep and slow breathing.

This Week: When you feel stress or anger this week, consciously turn your attention to your blood pressure. Imagine that you have a pressure monitoring kit in place while you take very deep and slow breaths. Breath in, hold it for a count of five, and breath out slowly while counting to five. Repeat this while imagining your blood pressure readings going down. Continue this for 30 to 60 seconds or until you feel more relaxed and calm. Repeat as necessary.