Stress Management
Stress is the body’s natural reaction to demands and challenges. In moderate amounts, stress can be useful and increase performance, but persistent stress without adequate recovery can lead to serious health and quality of life consequences. Learning to manage stress effectively is an important life skill that can prevent burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Good stress management is not about removing all stress from life, but about developing strategies to handle the demands you encounter in a healthy way.
Symptoms of too much stress
- Constant restlessness and tension
- Sleep problems and fatigue
- Headaches, neck and shoulder pain
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- Irritability and mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating
- Overeating or loss of appetite
- Social withdrawal
- Increased use of alcohol or other intoxicants
When should you contact a psychologist?
- You feel constantly overwhelmed
- Stress affects your health, sleep, or relationships
- You lack effective coping strategies
- You experience physical stress-related ailments
- You want to learn relaxation techniques and stress management
- You are concerned that stress may lead to burnout
Treatment
A psychologist at Eyr can help you map out your stressors and develop personal coping strategies. Treatment may include relaxation exercises, mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, time management, and boundary setting. You will learn to recognize early signs of stress and to take action before stress becomes unmanageable.
