Work, deadlines, bills, chores, family matters... are you already stressed? The daily demands of life require time and energy that we sometimes don't have. When these demands get out of control, they bring a state of stress.

What is stress? Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension that results from an adverse event or situation. During a stressful situation, our fight or flight response (our body's alarm system used to protect us from danger) is activated. Although a certain amount of stress can be positive in motivating us, protecting us or pushing us into action, too much stress can begin to affect our mental and physical health. Whether we realize it or not, stress causes adverse effects on our body.

There are two types of stress, acute stress and chronic stress. Acute stress refers to brief but intense stressful situations, such as an accident, getting into an argument, forgetting a deadline, or not having enough hours in the day.. Chronic stress refers to ongoing difficulties, such as financial instability, conflicts at work and family, caring for a loved one, troubled relationships, living in a dangerous neighborhood, etc.

You may wonder, well, isn't stress just an uncomfortable feeling? Yes, but it can also cause a variety of uncomfortable physical symptoms. Such as:

  • headaches,
  • back pain,
  • muscle tension,
  • sweat,
  • nausea,
  • indigestion,
  • Chest pain.

It can also cause emotional symptoms such as:

  • concern,
  • irritability,
  • anger/frustration,
  • Loss of motivation,
  • depression,
  • Difficulty concentrating,
  • Mood instability,
  • Decreased sexual desire and even memory problems.

You may find yourself: biting your nails, having constant thoughts, restlessness, grinding your teeth, interrupted sleep, social isolation and even substance abuse and the list can go on.

Once our fight or flight response is activated, it can cause rapid changes in our nervous, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems. (hormonal). Other vital activities of the body are temporarily interrupted (for example, feeding, growth, and reproduction), so you may find that you haven't eaten all day if you are stressed (1).

Studies show that prolonged stress (or continuous stress) will increase the likelihood of serious injury, be more prone to illness (such as decreased defense systems and colds), disability, or sometimes death (2).

Chronic stress is also associated with an increased risk of depression, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and until your body has difficulty healing wounds (3). Impressive, right? How impactful stress can be on our body! Although our body uses our fight or flight to protect ourselves or ensure survival, it can also harm our body if we do nothing to control it, relax and calm ourselves.

So what can we do? Studies have shown that there are several ways to reduce stress levels. Things you can do for yourself include: exercise, sleep well, eat regularly, spend time with family or social support, participate in a hobby, take breaks, and avoid substance use. Things you can learn in therapy include: learning different types of relaxation techniques, acceptance techniques, mindfulness therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, setting boundaries with family or work, or finding ways to separate yourself from stress-inducing difficulties.

Stress doesn't have to control your life or determine your health outcomes. Ultimately, you are the one who decides what you will do with your stress. You have the power to make the necessary changes in your life to reduce stress.

If you are having difficulty making those changes, please contact one of our therapists to help you process these barriers and help you achieve your goals.

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ABOUT

Hello! My name is Michelle Quintero, bilingual therapist.

I believe that everyone has the ability to make positive changes to improve their mental well-being.

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I prioritize creating a space to process our experiences without feeling judged.