Strategies to Achieve a Relaxation Response

Identify each of the following techniques, providing the rationale for using each and its limitations:

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Autogenic Training
• Diaphragmatic Breathing
• Quieting Reflex
• Imaging/Visualization
• Meditation
• Exercise/Yoga

Identify the criteria to use for selecting appropriate techniques for different situations

Explain the role of the placebo effect in learning relaxation skills.

Discuss the importance of passive attention in learning physiological self-regulation relaxation skills

Troubleshoot problems with poor skill acquisition

1. emotions surface during relaxation session

   Identify appropriate practice regimes make it feasible for selected relaxation strategies

   • time
   • location, etc.

   Explain the need for frequent self-monitoring of stress and/or relaxation states during self-regulation training

   Explain the need to teach generalization of skills so that these techniques can be applied in "real world" circumstances

   Recognize typical and atypical relaxation training responses

   Explain how the following attributes may influence the relaxation training learning process both positively and negatively:

   • personality
   • life-styles
   • individual differences, etc.

   Identify the contributions by individuals to the development of relaxation training:

   • Jacobson
   • Schultz
   • Luthe
   • Benson
   • Stroebel, etc.

   Explain the need for medical referral/clearance prior to relaxation training for those individuals with complicated medical disorders:

   • diabetes
   • hypertension
   • epilepsy, etc.

   Identify potential adverse effects during relaxation training for individuals:

   • asthma
   • hypertension
   • ulcers
   • diabetes, etc.

   Explain the concept of dysponesis

   Know basic emergency first-aid procedures