| Are you stressed? Are you having a hard time dealing with everyday challenges? Does it seem like every little think has become a huge, impossible task? Do you feel tense all the time?
Everybody gets stressed once in awhile. Stress is extremely common. It is a natural response to things that disrupt the normal balance of our lives.
When you are stressed, your body makes adrenaline, which is a chemical that causes several changes in your body. A lot of adrenaline causes increased blood pressure and heart rate, muscle tension, and pupil dilation. If you are stressed for a very long time, you might experience heart palpitations, chronic fatigue, eating changes, crying, decreased sexual desire, aches, pains, and frequent infections. Stress causes many physiological and psychological problems.
Some common stressors are:
- family conflicts
- divorce
- pressure to perform at work, at school or in sports
- unemployment
- job stress
- financial worries
- alcohol and/or drug abuse
- relocating to a different neighborhood, state, or country
- illness
- verbal and emotional abuse
- death of a loved one/bereavement
- constant disagreements/bickering and yelling
- threats of physical violence
What is stress?
You might not always be aware of what is causing you stress. You are unique, so you might be stressed by something that doesn’t bother somebody else. You also might have a different reaction to stress than other people you know. Some things that stress you may be temporary and some may be long lasting. Chronic, long-term stress can be physically and emotionally harmful for both you and the people you love.
You might react differently to stress than others. Some of the common stress responses are:
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- irrational behavior
- periods of irritability or anger
- apathy or depression
- loss of sex-drive
- constant anxiety
- increased smoking, drinking or recreational drug-taking
- comfort eating
- lack of concentration
Each person has a different physical reaction to stress. Some of the common symptoms are:
- skin problems
- excessive tiredness
- bodily aches and pains
- rapid heart rate
- for women, missed menstrual periods
- increased pain from physical conditions
Treatment
Stress can hurt you in many ways, so treatment can greatly improve your quality of life. Counseling and psychotherapy can help you learn relaxation and stress management techniques. These skills help you recognize stressors and reduce the tension that they cause. For those with stress and anxiety, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, along with hypnotherapy, can be very helpful.
If you have further questions about stress or believe you may be suffering from symptoms linked to stress, pressure, tension, nervousness, anxiety, or worry, call our office at 212-996-3939. We will be glad to answer your questions and can help you select the therapist that best meets your needs.
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