Copyright © 1995-2020 Psych Central. Showers get the job done, but nothing relaxes more than a soothing bath. I mean learning how to actually feel and process the stressful sensations that your body is holding. take the edge off 1. Let your brain relax and veg out as you watch a favorite show, surf Facebook, and check out your favorite sites. We desperately look for ways to distract ourselves from them so we don’t need to feel them. advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you can’t tear away from work, pop a fruity sucker in your mouth. The inviting aroma, the warmth on your throat, the health-boosting anti-oxidants and those 10 minutes to sit back and unwind are all waiting in one delightful cup. Unfortunately many times this just ends up making you feel even guiltier about your situation. Find a quiet spot to get out the kinks and tension and you’ll feel refreshed and limber in no time. Popcorn is a great wholesome snack that takes just minutes to make. Maybe you even get a massage or take a nice long walk in the crisp evening air. Here’s 3 ways to treat your feet and get ready for sandal season. As you pay closer attention, you start to notice your shoulders softening up and begin unwinding from the tension that they are holding. Dance around the house or sing along like no one’s watching or listening. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/take+the+edge+off. Stretching relaxes those tense muscles and helps you focus on our body’s needs. Take 10 minutes, put on some relaxing music and get things nice and neat. Let’s go back to the example of coming home really, really stressed. Exercise causes the release of phenylethylamine, a compound which has a natural antidepressant and anti-anxiety effect. You’ll take a couple minutes to just think about you and walk away with knot-free locks. Maybe you have a glass of wine. Imagine coming home from a stressful day at work and you badly need to unwind, de-stress, and get back into your zone. Sprinkle some seasoning and munch while working or as a break-time treat. Learn more. Her comments were quite cruel, and nothing could be said to take the edge off of them. They leave us forever running from ourselves and our uncomfortable feelings and rob us of the stillness and inner quiet needed to attempt noticing and enjoying the life around us. Stroking a pet reduces stress and makes him or her feel happy, too. We won't be having lunch for another hour, but if you're hungry now, I've got some snacks to take the edge off. (Obviously, this is not referring to individuals who need to take medication for their specific mental health situation. These just-for-me moments can lower your stress level and help you feel calmer and more centered instantly. Man relaxing photo available from Shutterstock. Learn More about take the … Perhaps take some anti-anxiety or sleeping medication? Starting an exercise plan will change your life. It refers to those who don’t actually need medication but might take it because they don’t know of any other solution). After that, you notice your stomach feels really tight and stuck, so you shift your attention there. It’s hard to concentrate on the woes of the day when you are trying to carefully polish your fingernails. You can actually feel the tension between your shoulders, neck, and surrounding muscles. Perhaps you get yourself to a nearby yoga class or gym. Fig. to decrease the effect of something; to make something less blunt, critical, etc. Breathe in the fresh air and take in the sights around you. Take care of your skin and pamper yourself — you deserve it! You get up and leave the room feeling as if you have come back to yourself and you can reconnect with humanity. What happens when these universal tricks to help one unwind aren’t even able to make a tiny dent in the amount of stress that you are feeling? Skype sessions are available as well. Dovid has a Masters in Counseling Psychology in addition to advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, Craniosacral therapy, and Somatic Psychology. The key to really getting past your stressful feelings and not having them build up day after day is by learning how to get in touch with those feelings in your body. Cutting hard stuff like that will take the edge off your knife blade. While there is no cure for anxiety, there are many things you can do to take the edge off, naturally. Even if you can’t adopt a new friend, simply visiting a shelter will make you feel good and will give the animals some companionship. All rights reserved. These fixes don’t really work, especially in the long run. Maybe watch TV or Facebook till you can’t keep your eyes open anymore and fall asleep from exhaustion? It doesn't make you feel like a zombie & it will definitely take the edge off. Fold the laundry. Get in a workout. Take a few minutes to thank your furry friend for always being by your side. You give yourself permission to take as much time as you need to begin noticing any sensations or feelings in your body while maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude. Who can resist those adorable cat videos or cute toddlers saying the silliest things? Forget about your daily worries by reminiscing with a childhood friend. With your feet comfortably planted on the ground, you begin focusing your attention inward. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. Thinking of that special someone will help you forget your stress. Running a comb or brush through your hair stimulates the scalp and can relax a worried mind. Our 27 ideas will have you smiling and relaxed right away. Hugging relieves stress and makes you feel loved. Perhaps you make a beeline to your computer or TV. While this may sound like work, that pile of clothing laying around can cause stress just by your knowing its waiting there for you. Find some old CDs or search online for some of those songs that remind you of high school. Catch up on your favorite celebs, get some health tips, follow the news or get some new dinner ideas. You continue your practice for about 15 minutes while letting your body release the tension it has built up from the day. Print out your favorite photos you have stored on your phone and make an old-fashioned album. A few seconds later, a breath, slightly deeper than previous ones, naturally comes up and releases with it some tension. Pick out your favorite scents like vanilla, cinnamon or sage and carefully light some decorative candles around the house. That tight squeeze from a loved one releases endorphins making you feel great. Sipping a healthy smoothie of fruits, veggies and other healthy ingredients will rev you up, make you feel energized and give you a boost. Dovid has a private practice in Los Angeles dedicated to helping individuals overcome anxiety and achieve deep emotional healing by combining both talk therapy and mind-body modalities. What options do you have to help you get there? But what do you do when they are not enough? Should you drink more? Perhaps finish the bottle? This is always done in a relaxed and slow manner so it never feels overwhelming. These options are great and it’s awesome that you have them at your disposal. Psych Central does not provide medical or psychological This is an important step but just half the game. Copyright © Simplemost, All Rights Reserved. Even a short stroll around the block to stretch your legs can make a big difference in your productivity and concentration. Try one (or more) right now! here. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, take the chill off (of) (something or some place), take the heat off (of) (someone or something). You get up and leave the room feeling as if you have come back to yourself and you can reconnect with humanity. They don’t take long to make, and the time spent paying attention to the recipe will take your mind off the day’s stress. Try a new flavor each day and see which is your teatime favorite. Now imagine you find a comfortable chair, sit down, and close your eyes. While this may sound like work, that pile of clothing laying around can cause stress … Think of someone you’ve been meaning to contact and let her know how much she means to you. Cutting hard stuff like that will take the edge off... 2. There is a better option that can forever give you the upper hand on handling your stress. There are ways to take the stress out your life, if even just for the moment. At first you notice that your shoulders feel really tight and heavy, almost as if heavy weights have been placed on them. Trust me, Lexapro will make your life easier to live. We can give you some medication to help take the edge off the pain. Lit. Shut the door, dim the lights, and soak in a bubble bath of relaxing scents. Oftentimes we find TV, work, drugs, alcohol, meaningless conversations, empty relationships, food, and basically anything that can help us get a break from ourselves, our thoughts, and our stress. Now, I don’t just mean be conscious that you are feeling stressed and come to terms with it. Once you’re done, you’ll feel relieved. 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This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Reading old classics can bring back fond memories of your childhood and helps improve the literacy of your children. : to make (something) weaker or less severe a medication that takes the edge off the pain A glass of milk will take the edge off your hunger/appetite. Then, despite the intense desire to leave that feeling behind and find any distracting thought or activity to take its place, you find the courage to nonjudgmentally hang out with that feeling for a couple more seconds. The silliness of some of the programming will have you feeling a little more carefree. To make something less intense, severe, or unpleasant. to dull a blade. Understandably, when we are feeling stressed, unhappy, or tense we naturally want to get away from those feelings. Choose a bright, happy shade. To get Dovid’s powerful free short audio on helping you overcome stress and anxiety just click Man relaxing photo available from Shutterstock How to Take the Edge off … (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Dovid Meshchaninov, MS, is a coach, healer, and mind-body practitioner. He did not mean to insult the guest, and he quickly thought of something to say that would take the edge off his remark. You can learn it relatively quickly, get good at it over a couple of days or weeks, and perfect it over a lifetime. Being silly and carefree will help you remember to not take things too seriously. Ask him to let you try Lexapro which is an antidepressant. Even if you don’t have time to get through the entire magazine, a quick escape from the daily grind is a stress-reducer. What if nothing is really helping take off the edge?