Relaxation techniques help Airmen deal with stress

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jasmine Zielomski
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Citizen Airmen may have to deal with stressful situations that may seem overwhelming at times. Stress from work, home or financial obligations can place strain on their friends, families, peers and subordinates.

It is possible that a person may not realize that they are experiencing stress, or they are unsure of how to overcome the stress brought on by situations in life.

Understanding your stress and learning how to reduce it may be beneficial for a healthy mind, body and soul.

Jaclyn E. Urmey, 514th Air Mobility Wing, director of psychological health, taught the first of 12 classes which teaches Airmen relaxation exercises and how to deal with external and internal stress.

"Simply being military causes us stress, and we deserve to take care of ourselves the best we can," she said.  "So we can be the best us for those who love us, for those whom were serving and also with the peers that we have."

Body awareness was the first lesson which allowed Airmen to understand their bodies' reaction to stress and stress relief.

"The class offers ways to relax through meditation and mental-body scans which target internal and external stress," she said.

The body scan requires Airmen to start at the tips of their toes and search their body for any signs of stress or tension, she said. Once Airmen identify the stress they try to rid the tension through breathing techniques.

The class is open to all Airmen that want to get rid of stress and learn stress-reduction exercises.

"It can be a little uncomfortable and awkward, but it's a great way to simply get the information and start your own relaxation practice," she said. "So far with these classes, I have had 100-percent participation."

Airmen can find several resources in the class to help educate themselves on stress management.

"Some folks may not be comfortable participating in the activities," she said. "But it doesn't mean they are going to leave without some sort of experience or information."

Airmen are encouraged to come to the class but if they don't, they can find stress management information on the internet.

Urmey said Military One Source offers many stress-reduction tools and provides information specific to particular forms of stress.

It is important for Airmen to seek help for the stress in their life and be mentally fit at all times.

"Stress can often take our attention away from the mission, our jobs and from the skills we are supposed to be developing to help defend and support the constitution," she said. "When we aren't able to give our job 100 percent, we're doing a disservice to the people that we are serving and our family that need us there too."

For more information, call 609-754-2542 or email jaclyn.urmey@us.af.mil.