| In order to understand how origami aids in stress relief, | | | | a calming effect. The art of origami involves folding |
| it is important to understand what stress is and why it | | | | and creasing paper. This uses both sides of your brain. |
| needs to be managed. The definition of stress itself is | | | | The brain is divided into two halves as we know, the |
| fraught with opposing views. Hans Seyle is one of first | | | | right hand side controls the left hand and the left hand |
| professionals to get to grips with the definition. Back in | | | | side controls the right hand. As you engage your mind |
| 1956 he said "stress is not necessarily something bad - | | | | to tell your hands what to do this gives both mind and |
| it all depends on how you take it. The stress of | | | | body a channel or focus. As both mind and body are |
| exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while | | | | absorbed in the detail of folding and creasing the |
| that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental." He | | | | paper. The design starts to take shape into something |
| thought that the effect of stress would be apparent | | | | aesthetic you become more like yourself. The sense |
| whether the stress be caused by a positive or | | | | of fulfillment and resulting satisfaction help relieve the |
| negative experience. | | | | symptoms which you felt beforehand. Simple origami |
| Richard S Lazarus has since found the most widely | | | | folds and creases can be used to make a wide |
| accepted definition for stress "stress is a condition or | | | | variety of designs. Including animals, the Japanese |
| feeling experienced when a person perceives that | | | | crane is a starting point. Which can lead on to many |
| demands exceed the personal and social resources | | | | others from cats and dogs to elephants. |
| the individual is able to mobilize". As this description is | | | | There are lots of good things to be got from origami. |
| the most acceptable we can summarize it by saying: | | | | Once you have mastered the initial folds and creases. |
| That people feel stressed when they are presented | | | | As ones confidence gains momentum, you can take |
| with a situation, which they do not have the experience | | | | your experience and attempt more complex designs. |
| necessary to manage. The extent of the stress varies | | | | The method of folding remains the same, whether the |
| on that persons experience of a particular set of | | | | design be complex or simple. I.E. the patterns are not |
| circumstances. | | | | determined by different fold types. But from the |
| Stress is equated to worry or grief and it comes from | | | | manner in which the folds are put together, forming |
| many sources in daily life. Whether kids, partners or | | | | different designs. So once the basics are mastered |
| work become a toll the symptoms are the same: | | | | you are only restricted by your imagination! |
| nervousness, anxiety, short temper, lose of sleep. | | | | Recognizing the symptoms of stress is part of the |
| Often those suffering smoke or drink more heavily. | | | | battle, being proactive about managing that stress |
| Stress is an unseen tension within us. It leads to | | | | ensures the stress is minimized. As a method of |
| unusual and often harmful behavior and is in the long | | | | balancing your body and mind origami certainly helps. If |
| term highly detrimental. | | | | you establish a routine of setting aside even ten |
| Origami is a great way to help manage stress. In the | | | | minutes daily to developing your origami skills this will |
| same way stress is a physiological problem. So | | | | aid in a less stressful life. |
| origami engages both the mind and hands to produce | | | | |