Stress balls have multiple benefits

COVID-19 and sheltering in place have increased the amount of stress and anxiety that a lot of people are dealing with. There is a simple method that is available to everyone that reduces the tension and is quite inexpensive and perhaps in some cases even free. Stress balls are small round or oval-shaped objects, that are filled with a malleable gel, and fit perfectly inside the palm of your hand.

Some businesses design their own brand of anxiety reducing balls that look like among other objects, eggs, tennis balls, red apples, smiley faces, footballs, broccoli, and lemons. Repeatedly squeezing these objects releases tension which in turn, assists in relieving stress. Not only do stress balls help with emotional well being but they can also assist in the treatment of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome as well.

These tension-reducing balls have also been used as tools for meditation. Stress balls are convenient to store in a purse or other bag because of their small size. You can always have one on hand whenever you feel tension interfering in your day. Some people keep them inside of their vehicles and on their jobs.

When you find that you need a diversion in your daily routine in order to refresh yourself and detox using a stress ball is the answer. you This will help you relax, concentrate, and relieve unnecessary tension. It will also assist you in decreasing the clutter of noises. Those who are workaholics on the job can really benefit from using a stress ball and studies indicate that will make a difference in your level of productivity.

Decreasing the levels of stress and tension in your body can help to improve your over all quality of life in several ways. You will experience better sleep habits, decrease the risk of illness, and experience a sense of well-being. When you squeeze the "egg" it activates the muscles in your hand and wrist. When you release the grip this allows your muscles to relax. The repeated pattern of gripping and releasing is what helps to alleviate stress and tension.

I challenge myself by using my left hand more with the stress ball. because this is my non-dominent hand I am not able to squeeze as hard as I can with my right hand. I am, also finding out that using the stress ball along with diet changes, deep breathing and exercise that my blood pressure is being lowered without medication. The first BP image shows my reading a week ago. The following is a reading I took today and you can see the difference.

If I can keep this up the stress ball will save me the money I was paying every month for two different medications to lower my blood pressure. If you are on prescription drugs for your blood pressure please do not stop or decrease them without first talking to your health care provider. I monitor my numbers 3 or 4 times a day and should they begin to rise I will not hesitate to refill a prescription.

In the photo below the hand is squeezing the ball tightly. I like to see how far I can go in getting the stress ball to flatten. I am determined to squeeze the ball as tightly with one hand as with the other. Hand and wrist muscles can become strained or weakened because of a sprain, fracture, arthritis, or day to day overuse. Squeezing a stress ball can be beneficial in helping to strengthen or rehabilitate your hand.

Making use of a stress ball is simple. The best way to obtain the benefits of your little round friend is to squeeze as tight as you can and hold for at least 5 seconds. Release and repeat 10 times then switch and use the opposite hand. According to HUFF POST squeezing a stress ball releases energy that induces you to relax. There are a lot of nerves located in our hands and wrists that are connected to our brains. When you use a stress ball this stimulates the nervous system so if you don't have one please get yourself a stress ball today.