There is no such thing as stress-free living. Everyone has some amount of stress in their life. Some have less, others have more. But not all stress is bad. In small doses, stress can help us deal with pressure-filled situations, and even drive us to levels of achievement that we never thought we could reach. Stress keeps us alert, motivates us, and helps us avoid danger.
What Is Stress?
Stress is primarily a physical response. When someone feels stressed, the body feels like it is under attack. The natural way the body deals with this is by going into “flight or fight” mode. In other words, one chooses whether to stay and fight, or run away. Going into this “fight or flight” mode can be very useful out in the real world. It’s what allows people to respond well to danger or threats.
What Are the Effects of Stress?
Stress can cause problems when it manifests itself in inappropriate situations. During these times, when the body goes into “fight” mode, brain function is minimized. The brain senses that it is time to act, not think. This can lead to poor decision-making, impulsive negative behaviors, and anger. Spending too much time in “fight” mode can have significant negative effects on someone’s personal and professional life.
When the body goes into “flight” mode, it leads people to run away from their stressors (the triggers of their stress). However, in most situations, simply removing oneself from the cause of the stress will not relieve the stress, and “flight” (e.g., avoidance) can make the original problem worse and ultimately lead to stress levels rising even more. As stress starts building up more and more, it can lead to serious physical, psychological, and emotional distress in the body.
Is there an alternative to the negative impact of stress? The therapists at Thriveworks in Buffalo, NY have equipped many clients with healthy coping strategies for handling stress. Flight or fight are not the only options; instead, you can thrive.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
There are many signs of elevated stress levels, both physical and emotional. The licensed counselors and therapists at Thriveworks in Buffalo, NY can help identify and address these symptoms. A few (but not all) include the following:
- Chronic headaches
- Joint pain
- Upset stomach
- Easily-triggered anger
- Irritability
- Panic attacks
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Trouble sleeping and/or nightmares
- Memory loss
- Impulsive behavior
What Causes Stress?
Stress has many causes, and each person has unique triggers for stress. Stress can develop for different reasons, including, but not limited to, grief from the death of a spouse or loved one; relationship issues like divorce or a breakup; a serious injury, chronic pain or illness; job loss or other problems at work; physical health problems with children and family; financial problems; difficulty at school with friends or teachers; moving to a new home; and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, guilt, or low self-esteem.
How Do You Relieve Stress?
There are several things that people can do to help relieve stress. Being mindful of these things while dealing with stress is very important. Some of the stress relievers people can practice on their own include:
- Eating properly
- Drinking enough fluids
- Regularly getting enough sleep
- Exercising regularly
- Spending more time with family and loved ones
While some stress can be reduced through self-care, oftentimes people need more support. If you find yourself over-stressed, and are ready for some help, it may be time to start a relationship with a stress therapist or other stress management mental health professional at Thriveworks in Buffalo, NY. At Thriveworks in Buffalo, we have caring, experienced stress management therapists who want to help you cope with the daily stress in your life. They will listen to you, and create a personal plan uniquely suited to you. Through counseling for stress, you may learn techniques to:
- Deal with the stress built up inside of you
- Lower those stress levels
- Learn how to cope with various stressful situations when they arise
Schedule an Appointment with a Stress Management Counselor at Thriveworks in Buffalo, NY
You do not have to go through life feeling stressed all the time. Contact Thriveworks in Buffalo, NY today for help, and start working towards a life with much less stress. Here are a few things we have done to make scheduling an appointment less stressful:
- A person will answer your call and help you make an appointment
- Many first-time clients see their therapist within 24 hours of their call
- We have after-hour appointments available
- Our therapists accept many forms of insurance
You can thrive! We can help! Call us at (716) 541-0841 to make an appointment.
