Stress Management

When our bodies respond to demanding situations, it affects us physically, emotionally and mentally. Stress is how our body reacts to these situations and affects us regularly at home, at work or in everyday life situations. Stress occurs when cortisol is raised and released into the bloodstream, causing our blood pressure to rise.

Symptoms of stress

Stress impacts in diverse ways, such as:

• Physical:  Aches, pains, headaches, fatigue, trouble sleeping, illness
• Mental: Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, addiction
• Emotional: Anger, sadness, feelings of being overwhelmed

What causes stress

It's natural to feel the pressures of life now and then and feel stressed. However, reactions to stress are not always to adverse situations. For example, we can experience stress because of a big move, a career change, getting married or receiving a diagnosis, etc.

Stress is often synonymous with the workplace due to the various pressures we face in our jobs. While this is normal, it can often lead to the point of burnout and feeling overwhelmed. These unhealthy feelings need to be addressed and understood to ensure that they don’t lead to more severe complications.

Managing stress in therapy

Managing stress successfully is key to ensuring it doesn’t begin to control your life. Severe instances of stress can lead to depression, illness, and alcohol and drug abuse. Therapy provides practical ways to cope with stress and understand its triggers.

Some stress-relieving methods include:

• Breathing exercises
• Meditation
• Focusing on positive thoughts
• Increased planning
• Boundary setting
• Assertiveness building
• Talking about your feelings with a loved one or trusted friend