What is stress?
Stress is our response to situations in our life that we experience
as worthy of anxiety. Many aspects of life can cause stress such as financial
concerns, work pressures or relationships. When a person is stressed this can
interfere with their ability to manage their life and responsibilities which in
turn can cause further difficulties and further stress.
From a physiological perspective, stress is your body’s way of
responding to any demand or threat. When you experience a sense of threat your
body releases stress hormones which rouse the body for emergency action. This
is known as ‘fight or flight’ response and it is your body’s way of protecting
you from dangerous situations. Stress becomes too overwhelming as a result the
body not being able to distinguish between daily stressors and life threatening
events. Many health problems can be exacerbated by stress.
Some of the common symptoms of stress are:
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worry
Irritability or short temper
Feeling overwhelmed
Moodiness
Aches and pains
Chest pains
Procrastination or neglecting responsibilities
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
Treatment for stress/stress management:
Everyone is different in terms of their ability to manage stress. Cognitive behavioural therapy can be very effective in helping you develop more effective stress management strategies including relaxation techniques. Prior to receiving treatment for stress you will have a psychological assessment to help understand the current causes of stress in your life and what factors might be implicated in your difficulties. This will involve developing a psychological formulation that explores your stress responses and aims to break negative cycles that maintain stress.