A Panic page!?

Yep. This is where you come when you feel overwhelmed by the information or prospects of changing your lifestyle, you fall off the wagon, or anything else that induces anxiety occurs.

Okay, I'm here. What now?

First of all, breathe. Deeply. Three times. Maybe even four. There is no reason to get stressed. All you are doing now is reading words from a computer screen. Nothing scary about that, is there?

Now, a few important things to keep in mind:

1. I assume you arrived to this website out of choice. In other words, nobody is making you do anything - you are here because you want to be, and you can leave whenever you choose.
2. Feeling overwhelmed? That's okay. You don't need to remember or understand everything this moment. Right now, all you need is the willingness and perhaps a bit of faith. Remember, we are taking it one step at a time.
3. Remember, beginnings are always the hardest part. Once you get past them, it becomes easier - even natural.
4. Fallen off the wagon? Great. No, seriously. Now's the chance to prove to yourself that it's not a big deal. Now you can choose to jump back on. This is how you build a healthy lifestyle.

Still a bit panicked. What else?

Without getting too off-topic (namely, weight loss and healthy living), I'll shortly describe a few simple relaxation techniques I like to use:

1. Sense relaxation: Focus on each of the five senses, one by one. Listen to all the sounds around you. Try to identify as many as you can. Taste the flavors in your mouth. Smell the smells around you. Look around and notice everything you see. And, perhaps the most effective - move over your entire body. Feel its weight. Let gravity take over - loosen your body completely.
2. Breathing: First, mimic the action of fogging a window with your breath. Now, try to do the same thing with your mouth closed, making a similar sound as you breath through your nose. It should sound a bit like ocean waves. Now, inhale slowly (at least 8 seconds in length, longer if you can). Hold your breath in for a second or two. Then gently, slowly let the air out. Wait a few seconds and repeat. If you're getting dizzy - slow down.
3. Guided Imagery: Lie down and close your eyes. Imagine yourself in a peaceful, loving place, such as beautiful, lush garden, a calming, sunny beach, or a cool forest. Imagine you are there. See your surroundings, hear the sounds, smell the scents, fell the sensations. Relax and enjoy it.

Additional Resources

A Relaxation Article on Wikipedia - Scroll down to "Techniques" and choose one you're interested in.
Stress relief - A very nice resource with relaxation practices.