Symptoms of Stress
It is common to experience stress throughout life, and many people go through phases of high or increased levels of stress. It is important to address high levels of stress and extended periods of increased stress.
For those who need help with stressful situations or feelings, stress management therapy is an option. I can teach you many different ways to cope and manage stress, from reframing your thoughts, to learning a variety of skills like mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing and Qi Gong, to adjusting parts of your lifestyle.
What Is Stress?
Stress is a feeling of overwhelm or doubt related to situations or things that happen to us. It can be physical, mental, or emotional. For example, stress can feel like an upset stomach, racing thoughts, or self-doubt. Many stressful events or situations involve changes or adjustments, such as moving to a new place or starting a new job.
Stressful situations or events aren't only negative though. Stress can come from positive changes, too. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (also known as the Life Events Rating Scale) developed by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, two American psychiatrists, will help you understand your stressors more. Take the assessment by clicking the link above. There are many stressors you may have never considered as impactful.
Types of Stress
Stress and trauma can range in severity. Maybe something specific triggers you toward a downward spiral, but you usually can regroup. Or it could be that your self-esteem and relationships regularly suffer (if you have any of either, at all). Sometimes, your emotions are all over the place; and sometimes it's the opposite, you feel mostly numb. These are just some of the issues that may be affecting you:
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Addition of a new family member
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Changes in personal habits, education, career, or relationship dynamics
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Changes in eating or sleeping habits
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Changes experienced by a spouse or partner
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Conflict at work or school, or with family or friends
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Death, injury, or illness of a friend or family member
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Divorce, separation, breakup, or reconciliation of a partnership, marriage, or relationship
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Financial status change, new loan or mortgage, or mortgage or loan default
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High personal achievement
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Holidays or vacations
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Injury, recovery, or physical, mental, or emotional health challenges
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Legal challenges
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Life transitions such as pregnancy or retirement
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Living condition changes or a household member moving in or out
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Recreational or social activity changes
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Responsibility changes
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Sexual challenges
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Social relationship conflict
Regardless of the cause, extreme stress and trauma change our brains and subsequently puts our mental, physical, and emotional well-being in a state of chaos. Sometimes it’s subtle. You get used to living in a constant state of alertness, defensiveness, or irritability. Other times, it can be torturous trying to understand and process what you've been through or how to heal from it — even though you know things could be better. Seeking help from an experienced therapist can make all the difference for you.
Why get help?
Negative feelings, behaviors, and the stressful or traumatic experiences that caused them can only be pushed down for so long. Eventually, they'll begin to act like a poison until they are healed. Your well-being, relationships, and ability to do life in any functional way will take its toll.
Stress negatively impacts every body system, including digestion, reproduction, bones and muscles, breathing, the heart and circulation, nerves, tissues, organs, and hormones. For example, people who are stressed are likely to have high blood pressure.
Stress therapy can help to reduce stress levels, prevent and address these negative effects, boost mood, and increase your quality of life.
Benefits of stress therapy include:
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Better digestion
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Better mood
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Better sleep
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Chronic disease management
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Increased productivity
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Improved immune system function
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Improved mental and emotional health
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Improved physical health
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Improved relationship interactions
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Lower blood pressure
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Reduced pain
To live your fullest life, you must start to process what is happening. This may sound scary but think of it as empowering. While seemingly impossible on your own, when you reach out for help, it is possible to heal from past events, resolve current issues, feel better, and live more positively in the present.
Choose J Hoffman Therapy | Stress Therapy Services in Farmington, CT
I can help you retrain your brain to make old memories and current situations less triggering and your reactions to them less devastating. At J Hoffman Therapy, I'll listen carefully to your stories and the negative beliefs you have stuck on a loop. I can help you get to the root of what impacts how you feel and behave. Whether it's from the past or the present, I can help you train your nervous system to feel calmer more often and for longer periods of time.
I value the connections I build with each client and believe the healing begins with feeling comfortable with me. Being seen and heard is what helps the healing continue. Having a space to practice different ways of being who you envision benefits you, too. As an experienced therapist, I will help you with the best combined approach for your unique needs to help you move forward.
Healing your past can be scary, addressing current triggers and moving forward can be too, but when you have support on your side — your best life is within reach . Let's get the healing started!
