Stress Management

Physical Changes: 

When you are stressed, your body produces the ‘fight or flight’ chemicals which prepare your body for responding to danger. Adrenaline and noradrenaline raise your blood pressure, increase your heart rate and increase the rate at which you perspire. They may also reduce blood flow to your skin and reduce your stomach activity. Over time these chemicals and the changes they create can seriously damage your health. You may start to experience headaches, nausea and indigestion. You may breathe more quickly, perspire more, have palpitations or suffer from various aches and pains. Longer term you may be putting yourself at risk from heart attacks and strokes.

Emotional changes: 

When you are stressed you may experience many different feelings, including depression, fear, anger, anxiety and frustration. Many of these emotions may make you feel physically unwell that you then worry that you have some serious physical conditions such as heart disease, stroke or cancer – making you even more stressed. 

Behavioural changes: 

Often when you are stressed you may act and behave differently. You could become withdrawn and lose social contact. Or you may become aggressive, start using unhealthy behaviour to help you cope, such as drinking too much alcohol, smoking etc. Your sleep may be affected and may be tearful at times. 

Stress can be caused in two major ways:

EXTERNAL TRIGGERS

• Physical environment 
• Social interaction
• Major life events
• Daily activities
• Work situations

INTERNAL TRIGGERS

• Lifestyle choices, living up to a standard
• Personality traits, perfectionism
• Unhelpful thinking styles

If you don’t address stressors in your life it can lead to chronic stress, which has  serious health implications, such as exhaustion, skin conditions, anxiety, depression, migraines, pre-menstrual syndrome and ulcers.

How we treat stress:

First of all, we help you identify your stressors, are they internal or external triggers, and what is causing them. We help you identify your thoughts and beliefs in how you manage those stressors and help you work out a plan that is specific to you on how you can reduce stress in your life.