Stress Management

Stress is a normal part of most people’s lives. However, this emotion can spiral out of control if left unmanaged. At that point, stress can keep people from living healthy, happy lives. Mental health professionals can help people manage stress, either to avoid or reverse this issue.

People first began feeling stress as a way of keeping themselves safe. Early humans knew that danger was near because the body would warn them with stress signals. This is not only a natural reaction, but it also keeps people safe. 

Today, stress can still serve this purpose. However, we also feel stress as a reaction to things that do not threaten our physical safety. When those feelings linger, they can cause problems.

The Many Types of Stress

We can categorize stress into three major types: chronic, acute, and episodic. People may have just one of these types of stress or all three. 

Chronic Stress

Long-term situations like jobs, financial problems, and unhealthy relationships cause chronic stress. Individuals with chronic stress feel the effects of the worry almost every single day for months or even years. Over time, chronic stress causes an increase of cortisol and adrenaline in the body. Such an imbalance can lead to physical illnesses and insomnia.

The Symptoms of Chronic Stress:

• Trouble falling or staying asleep.

• Difficulty concentrating at school or work.

• Feeling hopeless or trapped.

• Frequent headaches.

• Digestive system discomfort.

• Irritability.

• Low self-esteem.

The Effects of Chronic Stress

Over time, the increased presence of cortisol and adrenaline can lead to physical problems such as:

• Obesity

• Heart disease

• Depression

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Anxiety disorders

• Trouble with memory

Treatment options for chronic stress are a combination of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy and lifestyle changes to treat chronic stress. People with episodic acute stress experience extreme emotional reactions to relatively small things in life. Many people with this type of stress are described as “Type A” or “perfectionists”. Even the smallest failure can make people with this disorder feel worthless. The “acute” part of this disorder name means that people experience brief, yet intense, bursts of stress. However, the triggers are ongoing and internal. People with this disorder are not simply dramatic or needing attention. They feel the stress as a real threat.

At MindShift Psychotherapy treatments consist of evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive-behavioral Therapy, Stress Management techniques, Stress Inoculation Therapy, Biofeedback, Heart Rate Variability training, Neurofeedback, and lifestyle changes.