Stress is a normal reaction to anything that disturbs our mental, emotional, or physical equilibrium.
Stress can be short-lived or prolonged, mild or severe depending upon the stimulus, and is an omnipresent factor part of life. In some ways, stress is helpful and adaptive; stress can activate our “fight-or-flight” response, an important evolutionary function that helps keep us safe during times of duress or danger.
However, even lower levels of stress can produce the same chemical effect – releasing hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol into the bloodstream. These hormones can have a positive effect in the short term, keeping us active, alert, or even excited.
Long term stress, however, can be extremely detrimental to your health and relationship.
Furthermore, chronic stress can contribute to the development of other mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and more.
Some of our stressors are short term or tangible, brought on by a deadline at work or an argument with a loved one. Other sources of stress, however, are more abstract and harder to manage. These could include larger relationship issues, financial troubles, chronic illness, dissatisfaction with school or career, or general unhappiness.
While we cannot always control our environment and stressors, we can control our reaction to them. Stress management is a key to staying healthy, achieving success, and maintaining positive and supportive intimate relationships.
If more than a few of these sound familiar to you, you may be struggling with stress management. At Symmetry Counseling, we can help you identify your most powerful sources of stress and develop a plan for effectively managing them.
If you believe you could benefit from stress management techniques, call us today for a consultation. Symmetry Counseling therapists are experts at helping you create balance in your life, reducing stress, and increasing productivity and satisfaction. We can help you live happier and healthier.
