Stressors are all around us. We worry about relationships, family, work and finances. Without an effective way of relieving stress, it can have an effect on your health. Insomnia, decreased immune function, brain fog and heart problems have all been linked to stress. Most of us have heard of stress balls, but these aren't for everyone. Thankfully, there are more stress relief techniques you can try.

Aromatherapy has long been used to relieve health problems. Simply breathing in a relaxing scent such as chamomile, sandalwood or marjoram is enough to relax overactive brain waves. Other essential oils such as valerian, ylang ylang, lemon and lavender have also been shown to have relaxing, anti-anxiety effects.

Nothing is more soothing when you are frazzled than sitting down to a hot cup of herbal tea. Chamomile tea is one of the most well known herbal teas. It relieves stress and can help ease you to sleep if you have insomnia. Other herbal teas to try include lemon balm and passion flower.

Exercise is an effective treatment for stress. When you exercise, your body releases hormones called endorphins. These hormones leave you with a feeling of well-being. Any exercise that elevates your heart rate can be effective. Simply taking a walk is one of the easier stress relief techniques you can try.

Did you know that music is one of the more effective stress relief techniques? Soothing music can help calm anxiety. For an added bonus, playing an instrument can also be helpful. It diverts your focus, freeing your mind of the worries that have you stressed.

Biofeedback uses instruments to help you identify physiological functions, enabling you to control them. When you are stressed, certain changes occur in your body. These include constricted blood vessels, increased heart rate and blood pressure, the release of adrenaline and alterations in brain waves.

Biofeedback makes it easier for you to realize these things are happening. Then you can take action to relax yourself, reversing these changes.

Yoga and meditation are both good stress relief techniques. Both encourage deep breathing, which can help slow a rapid heart rate and blood pressure. Clearing your mind is also an integral part of both of these relaxation exercises. Some studies have indicated that they may even be helpful as part of a treatment program for panic or anxiety attacks.

Hypnosis is another technique for relieving stress. With hypnosis, whether self-guided or with a skilled practitioner, you work within your subconscious mind to change stress. This may include learning a new way to look at stress, resolving triggers or new tools to adapt with the stress you are under.

One the most effective stress relief techniques is also the most overlooked one. Talking about why you are stressed can help ease the burden of facing it alone. In some cases, talking about and hearing the problem out loud may help you see it from a different angle. If you do not feel comfortable talking to someone else about your problems, consider journaling.

Sometimes you just need to escape. While running from your problems is not a long-term solution, escaping into a movie or book for a while can be helpful. They divert your focus, allowing the stress induced physiological reactions to subside. Then you are better able to cope with the problem.