3 Pressure Points to Relieve Anxiety

Feeling Anxious? 3 Quick Tricks to Try

(AscendHealthy.com) – Do you have a big meeting coming up? What about a job interview or a big test in school? Are you feeling anxious about a situation? If so, several studies show acupressure or pressure point stimulation just might help relieve or reduce that anxiety so you can better function. We suggest three pressure points in the text below.

Research Supports the Use of Acupressure

There are several situations in life that can induce anxiety. But several studies have examined the efficacy of using acupressure to help alleviate anxiety in certain situations.

One study researched the benefits of acupressure points in cancer patients to relieve anxiety prior to treatment or procedures. Another study observed how pressure point stimulation helped with the anxiety and stress caused by the pain in women with severe menstrual cramps or infertility. Researchers found that acupressure points helped relieve anxiety prior to surgical procedures in a meta-analysis of several studies.

If acupressure points work so well in these more extreme situations, they should be able to handle more minor stresses. Let’s look at three active pressure points that work with acupressure to alleviate anxiety in the body. You can perform these any time, and you don’t need special equipment to perform pressure point stimulation.

Pressure Point #1 – Third Eye

The first pressure point you might try is known as the third eye or “The Yin Tang.” It’s located in the middle of your forehead, between your eyebrows. This point is used to relieve stress and anxiety. We all furrow our brows regularly, and the more stressed we are, the more we furrow our brows. Using this pressure point may help relieve some of the tension that collects in that spot, which may also help relieve headaches and eye strain.

Start by sitting back in a quiet spot with your eyes closed.
Relax your brow (and your entire face) and place your thumb or forefinger between your eyebrows.
Using firm pressure, press in a circular motion, massaging the point for 10-15 seconds at a time, while practicing deep breathing.
Take a 10-15 second break between mini-massages and repeat until you begin to feel the anxiety and stress lift from your brow and your body.

Pressure Point #2: Hand Valley Point

The second point is the webbing between your thumbs and forefingers. This point might reduce stress and anxiety, but it might also help relieve headaches — especially if they’re stress-induced. Toothaches, neck pain and shoulder tension can also be reduced with this pressure point.

This exercise can be done on either hand or you can alternate hands to perform a set of three on each hand, while deep breathing and relaxing.

Use your thumb and forefinger of one hand to pinch the fleshy part of the webbing between your other hand’s thumb and forefinger.
Using firm, consistent pressure and circular motions for about 10-15 seconds, massage the area while breathing deeply.
Repeat as often as necessary to obtain relief from anxiety symptoms and feel better.

Some people report that they obtain more headache relief by holding the pressure point for longer and gradually releasing pressure.

You can even perform these first two pressure stimulation exercises as needed, either before anxiety hits to help prevent a panic attack or worsening anxiety or during an anxiety event. But if you have the time, there’s another pressure point exercise that can be luxuriously wonderful while it helps reduce anxiety and stress: a foot massage.

Pressure Point #3 – Bubbling Spring Point

Located on the tops and bottoms of your feet, right behind the toes on the pads of your feet, are pressure points that you can massage yourself. Or if you’re really lucky, you might have someone else to massage them for you. This point is also known as the “Jing-Well point of the Kidney Meridian.” Breathe deep to relax while massaging the foot acupressure points to increase the benefits, which include more relaxing sleep and calming effects.

Sitting somewhere comfortable and working with one foot at a time, find the pressure point on each foot by curling your toes. Just behind the ball of your foot, there will be a small divot in the middle of your foot.
Place your thumb into the divot and your middle and ring fingers on top of your foot, corresponding to be over your thumb.
Apply firm, consistent pressure, and, using circular motions, massage the point for 15-20 seconds at a time while breathing deeply.
Repeat this twice more on the same foot, then switch feet and repeat the procedure.

These three pressure points work specifically to help alleviate anxiety and related symptoms. You can do these whenever you might experience anxiety and stress or prior to a stressful event. Taking a little bit of time out of your day can go a long way!

~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension!