Why is it so easy to focus on what’s wrong and dismiss or ignore what’s right?  What’s the ratio of positive to negative thoughts racing through your  mind on any given day?  Who is the target for the negative ones?  Many times we can be our own worst enemy, firing numerous self-effacing comments to the core of our being.  It’s time to take notice.  Why?  Because your body is listening.  Adopting an attitude of gratitude can have a positive impact on your health.  Check out this Huffington Post article by David Hamilton, “Do Positive People Live Longer?” 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-r-hamilton-phd/positive-people-live-long_b_774648.html. 

What do positive thinking and gratitude have to do with biofeedback?  One parameter measured in biofeedback is sweat gland activity (a-k-a, electrodermal activity or galvanic skin response).   Sweat gland activity is highly sensitive to thoughts and emotions and is an indirect indication of your stress response.  Don’t worry, the measurement gives no indication of WHAT your specific thoughts are, but an elevated reading can be indicative of a tendency to hold on to bothersome
thoughts and emotions.  Recognizing this pattern and learning to let go of negative thought patterns and enhance
positive self-talk can soothe and lessen the stress response.  Throw a few affirmations your way.  Hamilton, along with numerous others, suggest that a regular practice of counting your blessings will move you from being a negative to a positive thinker.
 
Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, has conducted numerous scientific studies
involving gratitude.  Follow this link for his ideas on how to get your gratitude on, even when life gets crazy.  http://www.dailygood.org/story/532/how-gratitude-can-help-you-through-hard-times-robert-emmons/
 
Be sure to scroll all the way to the end of his article to view a clever gratitude infographic created by the design agency,
Here’s My Chance.    
 
I find it helpful to turn to nature on a day when negativity reigns.  Take a walk.  Sit in the sun.  Gaze at the moon.  Use all your senses and bask in the beauty around you.  You may even recognize a bit of beauty within.  There is much to be grateful for.  Louie Armstrong reminds us of this in his recording of the song, “It’s a Wonderful World” written by Bob Theile and George David Weiss.  “I see trees of green, red roses too…I see skies of blue…And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”   What are YOU thinking to yourself?

Follow this link http://www.coloradoan.com/usatoday/article/2513655?odyssey=mod_sectionstories to find an article in today’s Fort Collins Coloradoan, “Stressed? Businesses count on it”.  Written by Bruce Horovitz with USA Today, many options for stress reduction are presented.  The array of possibilities includes electronic gadgets, apps, spiritual retreats, yoga, massage, relaxation drinks and comfy massage chairs.  

An inexpensive suggestion for stress relief is offered by Robbie Blinkoff, managing partner of Context-Based Research Group in Baltimore.  His advice?  “…Sit still for 10 minutes every day and breathe...” 

Well that’s easy enough. 

Unless you’re like some of us who keep our stress response turned on most of the day, and sometimes, into the night.  Maybe you’ve tried and it went something like this: “Ah, this is nice…I really don’t have time, but I’ll just sit here and close my eyes for a few minutes...(breath)…hmm, maybe I should move my phone a little closer in case someone is trying to reach me…there that’s better…(breath)…I wonder if I remembered to push send on that last email.  I really need a response from them soon…(breath)…Just relax, it can wait 10 minutes…(breath)…Gosh, why is it that I can never relax.  I’m trying, but everything feels so tense…Just breathe, they say…(breath)…I feel a little hungry.  I wonder what I should have for dinner tonight.  I probably need to run to the store.  Don’t forget milk…(breath)…and we’re out of coffee…(breath)…maybe that’s why I can’t relax.  I shouldn’t have had that last cup of coffee…”  

The internal dialogue can be relentless and sometimes the goal of relaxation is not achieved.  
 
That’s when biofeedback can help.  When your body’s responses are visible on the monitor screen, you can SEE what is and isn’t relaxed.  During your training sessions, you will be guided to release tension that you may not have otherwise been aware of.  You may learn that your typical breathing pattern doesn’t actually create a relaxation response.  A more
effective breathing technique can be learned and practiced.  The persistent mind chatter can be quieted.  

Once a relaxation response is attained, you will be asked to memorize this feeling.  With practice, you can re-create this sensation of true relaxation, without biofeedback equipment.  When stressors arise in your everyday world, you’ll have the tools and techniques to deal with whatever comes your way.  

P.S. If insomnia plagues you, deep relaxed sleep is possible.