I learned about the HeartMath products at a seminar several years ago. I have since purchased and received training on using these in my practice. Here is an excerpt from an article I found today on using HeartMath. I have them to be beneficial in my work with clients.
Tools for Today’s Stress
Many people have told us that the things they did in the past to reduce stress often don’t seem to work as well as they used to. That’s because today’s stress is more persistent due to the accelerating speed of life and constant change. In today’s times, stress is often triggered by mental and emotional overload, and by uncertainty about the future. Stress is our body’s way of signaling that we are out of balance and likely to make poor choices or compromise our mental, emotional or physical health.
It used to be that we had plenty space between events, like eating, sleeping, working, spending time with family and hobbies. We had time to unwind and recoup from stress. We could go on vacation and not worry about all the emails that will pile up so high that we don’t even want to take the vacation. Advances in technology have enabled us to constantly multitask, take on more and more work and stay hyper-connected. The media continuously broadcasts news that creates stress waves across the planet, adding to personal stress levels.
Today’s stress is different and we have to learn how to manage it — from the inside out. Even though stress impacts health, relationships, career and quality of life, we aren’t necessarily aware of the impact that stress is having on us. Many people still associate stress and sleep deprivation with hard work and are proud of that. But the statistics tell us something else. Today’s stress is analogous to the “Myth of Sisyphus” in Greek mythology. Sisyphus was compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity. As a leader in the field of stress and performance for over 20 years, it’s become apparent to us at HeartMath that many people have become resigned to living with high levels of stress as a new norm.
Public health organizations and publications are sounding the alarm about the growing “stress problem.” Norman Anderson, CEO of the American Psychological Association (APA), says that “Stress could easily become our next public health crisis.” An American Psychological Association survey found that 33 percent of Americans reported suffering from extreme stress and half of those reported experiencing high levels of stress at least 15 days per month. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that workplace stress is as bad for your heart as smoking and high cholesterol. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reported that employees with high stress have 46 percent higher health costs!
There are simple, effective steps we can take, but first we have to be aware of how stress is affecting our attitudes, communications, health and quality of life. Then we have to take personal responsibility, realizing that our moment-to-moment choices do count. They create a map of which emotional roads we will travel on each day and what the destination will be.
HeartMath Stress Solutions
HeartMath solutions to reduce stress and increase resilience are being used by thousands of adults and children, health professionals, health care systems, businesses and the U.S. military. People are taking charge of stress and transforming their lives.
Pre- and post-assessments of over 5,000 individuals using HeartMath stress solutions experienced the following results in just six to nine weeks. (Additional post-assessments showed improvements sustained after six months and one year.)
• 50 percent drop in fatigue
• 46 percent drop in anxiety
• 60 percent drop in depression
• 30 percent improvement in sleep
An independent actuarial analysis of one self-insured employer showed a health care cost savings of $585 per HeartMath-trained person in the first year alone, resulting in a 2:1 ROI for the employer with a projected 4:1 ROI in the second year. A similar ROI has been achieved in other organizations adopting HeartMath methods. We have achieved global recognition as a best practice in stress reduction, and for our research, products and services that have proven to reduce the impact of stress associated with living and working in this era of high-speed change.
We can all make progress in reducing stress, yet we have to play an active part in it. Emotional self-maintenance and living from the core values of the heart are an important part of the process.
The Huffington Post, HeartMath and bLife are collaborating on GPS for the Soul with the goal of helping millions of people with tools and technology to take charge of stress and find more peace, joy and quality in life.
Rozman, Deborah. GPS for the Soul and HeartMath: Tools for Today’s Stress. April 16, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-rozman/gps-soul_b_1425671.html. July 20, 2012.
Living a Life of Health & Happiness 