Stress Management
Learn Effective Stress Management in Therapy
Impact of Stress on the Body :
Stress is the silent killer. Stress manifests in all different shapes and sizes and will impact everyone on this planet in some shape or form. Stress, like anger is a natural human emotion and a part of life. Similarly to anger, stress has the potential for healthy and unhealthy expressions. In counseling, you are able to learn the effective ways to manage stress successfully on your own. Bad stress on the body can look like poor diet, abusing substances or poor boundaries with my work/life balance. Good stress can look like learning a new language where our brain is stimulated or working out consistently where our muscles are growing. The balance between good and bad stress is fine line to navigate.
A goal of therapy is being mindful and aware of stress developing. Counseling offers ways to improve the ability to think about your thoughts and feelings without getting swept away by them. It is very meta approach to be thinking about our thoughts, but like all skills, one can learn and improve their ability to do so. Stress can manifest in our body in so many unhealthy ways, either physically, mentally or emotionally. Stress can lead to unhealthy eating habits, weight gain/loss, sexual problems, cardiovascular issues, depression/anxiety and many more. Countless research articles have been published detailing the negative impact stress has on the human body. To strengthen ones ability to manage stress will allow the confidence to navigate all the stressors life inevitably will throw at you.
Ways to Manage Stress:
In counseling, treatment plan goals will aim at building healthy practices to address stress, including for example:
Healthy Self Care Goals-Diet/Exercise. Learning how to take care and be kind to our body.
Building in Positive Coping Mechanisms.
Having the Right Supports.
Proper Sleep Hygiene- Setting Proper Routines- Addressing impact of insomnia- Addressing barriers to sleep
Learning Relaxation Techniques- Deep Breathing- Cognitive Diffusion- Bio Feedback-Mindfulness Meditations.
Recognizing when Stress is Becoming Problematic.
Signs of Increased Stress:
Feelings of fear, shock, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
Difficulty sleeping or nightmares, concentrating, and making decisions
Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
Worsening of chronic health problems
Worsening of mental health conditions
Increased use tobacco, alcohol or other substances.
As a licensed mental health therapist, I will assist you in learning specific techniques taken from various modalities of therapy. Techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Evidence based practices that allow for practical skills and insight that will help reinforce healthy and positive life style changes.
If you feel that stress has had a negative impact on your life, you might consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. Please feel free to reach out for a free consultation, where we can discuss impacts of stress and benefits of counseling.
Related Readings of Stress:
The impact of stress on body function: A review
STRESS AND HEALTH: Psychological, Behavioral, and Biological Determinants
