Around 80% of people experience work stress, and stress is also the number one health concern for secondary students – as found in research undertaken by the Global Organization for Stress. Some people – including those responsible for their family’s health care decisions, ethnic minorities, women, and single parents face a particularly high risk of stress. Unfortunately, stress not only manifests itself in discomfort and worry; it is also strongly linked to a bevy of health conditions – including heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. If you are a tech lover and wonder how devices and tech systems could help curb this problem, read on and ensure you try out at least one technique if you are feeling more tension than usual.
Biofeedback For Stress, Anxiety And Depression
Biofeedback is a natural, effective, tech-based method that has been found to reduce stress, anxiety and depression in a study by P Ratanasiripong and colleagues. It essentially involves the use of electric sensors that provide information regarding involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle contraction, sweat gland activity, and blood flow. The method, imparted by a trained therapist, utilizes information obtained from the sensors to tackle problems such as muscle tension, mental stress, and pain perception. This is achieved via computer graphics and prompts (sometimes games) that help clients pace their breathing, relax their muscles, and utter more positive statements regarding the self, so as to lower stress and induce a calmer, happier state.
Small Devices And Gadgets
There are a plethora of gadgets aimed at reducing stress in specific ways. The list of stress-busting tech devices for men and women alike include vibrating massage rollers (aimed at easing tension in painful or tight areas of the body), light-based alarm ‘bodyclocks’ (which do not stress out the riser with loud noises, but rather, use light that becomes progressively brighter) and essential oil diffusers (meant for relaxing and energizing essential oils such as lavender and bergamot). Think of these devices as the ‘stress balls’ of the 80s taken to higher ground, with features that are capable of fulfilling more than one function – including, in some cases, that of pain relief.
Gaming Consoles
Top consoles such as PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series do more than provide entertainment for keen gamers; they also have stress-relieving functions – as found in research by academics at the University of Saskatchewan. “When people play video games they actually have a lot of benefits to our emotional health or social health and our mental well-being,” the researchers stated, after analyzing the effect of gaming on people aged 18 to 55. Gaming has cognitive and social benefits; in today’s landscape, it is proving to be a vital way for friends to connect in challenging times in which remote work and home confinement are the order of the day. The researchers reported that the benefits of gaming include psychological detachment from problems, relaxation, and the feeling of having a greater control over one’s environment. These are all vital when it comes to overcoming stress.
Relaxation Apps
Study after study has shown that holistic methods and activities such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and pranayamic (or controlled) breathing all significantly lower levels of stress hormone, cortisol. Play stores have a plethora of apps that enable busy urbanites to practice these therapies at home, offering sessions of various lengths and levels. Just a few of the most downloaded anti-stress apps include Breathe, Headspace, and Calm, which teach users how to breathe, meditate, and feel more rested and sleepier at night.
Technology is often mentioned in a negative light in the context of human mental health. In fact, many tech developments and products are proving to be successful at helping people battle the health risk that is chronic stress. From biofeedback sessions to relaxing apps, there are many choices when it comes to calming down, many of which are free and easily accessible.
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