Stress Management

Stress Management Q & A

What is stress management?

Stress often serves an important and positive role because it triggers the release of hormones that energize your body. This burst of energy helps you focus and deal with the problem at hand, such as a job interview. Once the stress is over, your hormones return to normal, and your stress goes away.

When you frequently feel stressed or face constant stressful situations, your anxiety and hormone levels stay high. Over the long run, this leads to depression and anxiety disorders and causes health problems.

Stress management gives your mind and body the relief it needs. Effective stress management protects your health by letting your brain calm down and restoring hormonal balance.

What causes stress?

Chances are you can quickly name the things that cause daily stress, from traffic backups to dealing with a noisy neighbor. But many major life events trigger long-lasting stress, such as:

• Getting divorced or breaking up

• Getting married

• Starting or ending a job

• Enduring discrimination

• Serious illness or chronic disease

• Being bullied

• Financial problems

• Moving

Sometimes there’s no doubt you’re under a lot of stress. At other times, the daily triggers become a part of your normal routine, and you stop noticing your stress levels.

What symptoms indicate I may need stress management?

Stress normally makes you feel nervous, anxious, and sometimes agitated. You may also experience:

• Depression

• Anger

• Irritability

• Panic attacks

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Stomachaches

• Mood swings

• Nausea

• Insomnia

• Muscle tension and aches

• Difficulty making decisions 

Ongoing stress affects virtually every part of your body. As a result, it contributes to chronic pain and chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. 

What should I expect during stress management?

Stress management helps you learn ways to deal with stress. High Desert Psychological Services takes a holistic approach to stress management. Your therapist draws from different therapies and recommends lifestyle approaches, such as:

• Psychotherapy (talk therapy)

• Medication management

• Mindfulness meditation

• Dietary changes

• Healthy sleep habits

• Relaxation exercises

• Tai chi or yoga

• Therapeutic massage 

Therapy that supports stress management may include learning new ways to eliminate or cope with daily stress, as well as counseling that helps with underlying conditions like depression and anxiety. 

With stress management, you can lead a balanced life. To learn more, call High Desert Psychological Services, or book an appointment online today.