Stress is a physiological (body) and psychological (mind) response to perceived challenges or threats. It is the body's way of reacting to any demand or pressure, whether internal or external. When an individual perceives a situation as threatening or overwhelming, the body’s stress response is triggered, leading to various physical, emotional, and behavioral changes.
Stress happens when you're responding to difficult situations or even a life transition. While stress can initiate your "flight or fight" response to help you escape threats, it can sometimes hinder more than it helps. If you're suffering from regular stress or anxiety, seek out stress management from one of the therapists at SL Psychotherapy and Wellness, offering in-person visits to those in Kanata and Nepean in Ottawa, and virtually throughout Ontario.
Why Stress Management Is Important
Occasional stress that is relative to the situation can help you get out of it. However, chronic or long-lasting stress is not helpful as it can cause you to have difficulty with concentration or memory. Chronic stress is known to contribute to a number of health problems, such as the following:
- Heart disease
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Accelerated aging
Stress can add to challenges in relationships, such as increased irritability with partners, friends, kids, or colleagues. You may also find you're not enjoying your friends and family as much as you used to because of how it's impacting you mentally. Through stress management for general stress or recurring anxiety, in person in Kanata and Nepean in Ottawa or online throughout Ontario, you can learn to find better ways to manage your stress and repair these relationships.
What Happens During Stress Management
Ensuring you receive optimal stress or anxiety relief revolves around customizing your treatment. That's why your therapist at SL Psychotherapy and Wellness will want to start by getting to know you and your particular situation. You two may talk about what challenges you’re trying to overcome and what you think success looks like.
Stress management can include learning new ways to care for yourself as poor lifestyle habits exacerbate the problem and can even cause it in some cases. You may learn about the importance of "me" time and how it can ease the burden stress or anxiety take on your life. For instance, your therapist will talk about the activities you enjoy and help you develop the skills to schedule time for yourself regularly.
A portion of your therapy may consist of learning ways to calm yourself whenever you feel your emotions getting out of control. Emotion regulation strategies can help with this. Prime example: deep breathing stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system to relax. It's a technique you can use when you're feeling stressed or as preventative care you can complete a few times each day.
Begin Easing the Burden of Stress in Your Life
The psychotherapists at SL Psychotherapy and Wellness, serving Kanata and Nepean in Ottawa in person and Ontario online, offer stress management support to ward off health problems in the future and invite you to feel better mentally now.