The Stress Coach: Biodot Stress Monitors (Stress Dots)

MY STRESS MONITORS (MSM) INFO AND ACTIVITIES PAGE

Quick Facts

MSMs measure approximate skin temperature and stress level
They are intended for indoor use with an air temperature of about 72F
They work for about two weeks of total time on your hand, and can last for a couple of years if kept on the card in a cool, dry place
You can share your stress dot with other people

Caring for Your MSM

Keep it dry
Put it on the Quick Calm Carry Card when not in use and keep in a cool place
Take it off when dressing, grooming, exercising, sleeping, and during other activities where it can fall off

How They Work

My Stress Monitors measure your skin temperature which is affected by your blood flow
When you are stressed--even by minor "back-of-the-mind" challenges and demands such as a distant jackhammer or upcoming math exam, blood is directed to the heart and brain where it is needed to fight or flee those threats (this response is automatic and part of our survival mechanism that kicks in when we think of occurrences as demanding or negative)
When your blood is concentrated around your heart and brain (organs critical to fighting and fleeing), less blood makes its way to your hands which lowers their skin temperature

Note on the color interpretation capsule below that the "stressed colors" correspond with lower skin temperatures, and "relaxed colors" match up with the higher numbers:

black brown yellow green aqua blue purple

79.0F 79.6F 80.6F 83.6F 85.6F 87.6F 89.6F

How You Can Use Your Stress Monitor to Prevent and Reduce Stress

Think of your MSM as a dashboard indicator light that offers you a quick check of what's going on inside your body. It will remind you to take note of how you are feeling from time to time during the day; if you notice that your MSM is brown or black, you might take action to make it go blue. Doing so can prevent eye strain from becoming a bad headache, annoyances from sparking an angry outburst, or nervousness from triggering a panic episode.

Here are some examples of how to use your MSM to prevent and reduce stress:

You're sitting in traffic and your MSM is black: do Quick Calm orlisten to calming music
You've been whacking your keyboard for three hours and your MSM is brown: take a 5-minute break, rest your eyes, and/or massage your hands, neck and shoulders
Everytime a certain colleague speaks, your dot bolts to black: explain what he/she's doing to you and either leave the room or figure out together how to reverse your dot's direction
You're watching the local news and your dot is brownish: stop watching, edit your news intake, or think about how you can make the world a better place
You are trying to fall asleep and your dot is green: try a guided imagery exercise, read a book (and take off your MSM)
You're laughing with friends and your monitor is blue: schedule more time with these friends and others who make you feel good

Visceral imagery is another way you can change your MSM color (and relax):

Close your eyes direct your blood to flow freely to your hands and feet. Think of your blood as a warm river that steadily makes its way to the sea. Focus on this image for a few minutes and add your own scenes

Imagine your hands warming; you might pretend that you're sunning them outside, holding a mug of hot chocolate, or warming them by a crackling fire

Use your MSMs to track your relaxation progress as you meditate, do yoga, stretch, or practice other stress-reducing activities--especially if you are a beginner.

Q&As about My Stress Monitors

My stress dot is a mix of colors and there was once a dark ring on the outside with another color inside--is this normal?

It's normal because it means that you are in transition from one state to another, or that you are both thinking and relaxing, for example.

My MSM is always black and I don't really feel stressed--is it broken?

Your hands are usually cold, right? People who have cold circulation in their hands, feet and/or nosewill usually find their MSMs remain black and brown. However, you can see changes in your monitor color by trying relaxation techniques, especially the visceral imagery exercises described above.

What does "thinking" (occupied) mean (the term that describes a green dot)?

Processing information, actively thinking about something, or being otherwise mentally occupied can produce a normal, low-level stress response. Similarly, if you get up right now and walk across the room, your MSM will likely react by turning brown or black because you have physically stressed yourself.

Does it matter which hand I wear the monitor on and do I have to wear it on my hand?

It does not matter which hand you wear it on, although holding a cold or hot drink in your dotted hand may interfere with its reading of your stress level. You can also put the MSM between your big toe and second toe, but then you wouldn't be able to see it very well. The monitor works best when it is far away from your heart.

Are these stress dots related to those mood rings?

Yes, Biodot stress monitors were first created for use by health care providers to check on their patients. Then, a department store licensed them to make jewelry in the 1970s that warned people about one's mood.

Will the MSM work on my dog?

No.

ORDER STRESS MONITORS

AND QUICK CALM CARRY CARDS!