Stress

We hear so much about stress these days. It’s a serious problem that manifests not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. We know that stress activates our fight or flight (or freeze) systems and causes our bodies to release adrenaline and cortisol in response. We know that high levels of stress that continue for long periods of time can lead to illnesses and to medical conditions like hypertension, stroke, and heart disease. We know that the source of our stress can be negative events or even positive events. And we know that stress is a part of our daily lives. It seems that there’s no way to escape it, only to manage it.

What Stress Can Look Like

Stress can manifest itself in different ways in different people. Some of the common physical symptoms are:

Headache
Insomnia
Fatigue
Body aches
Stomach pains

Some of the common mental and emotional symptoms are:

Anxiety
Depression
Irritability
Anger
Sadness
Apathy
Food and Eating Issues
Feeling Overwhelmed
Substance Abuse
Suicidal Ideation

Talking with a therapist can unburden you and help relieve some of the symptoms of stress that we all feel from time to time. Therapy can help you focus on healthy coping mechanisms that work for you in your life. Exploring your stressors with a therapist can help manage and reduce the stress that you feel. Often when we’re stressed, life moves too quickly. Therapy can help us carve out a space for ourselves to breathe and process events in our lives and how we feel about them. It allows us to take a break from the hectic pace of life and take the time for ourselves that we need and deserve. We know that when we’ve been dealing with high levels of stress over an extended period of time, other mental health issues can develop. Therapy can help us explore those issues as well and find a way forward.

Therapists at Live True Counseling understand how stress can affect all aspects of our lives. Our team has the experience and training to help you explore and manage the stress in your life. Our therapists offer a warm and comfortable place for you to take time for yourself and to focus on your needs. We’re ready to welcome and accept you no matter where stress has taken you and no matter what ways you’ve used in the past to manage your stress.