What is stress?
With so many pressures in modern life, lots of people feel stressed. But sometimes it can impact our health and wellbeing.
Stress is a natural response to events that upset us in some way. It can occur in dangerous situations and allows us to react quickly. But it can also happen in everyday situations. Deadlines, work pressures, exams, family demands and frustrations can make stress a daily occurrence.
The side effects of stress
Acute or constant stress can have a significant impact on health. It can also affect our moods, relationships, productivity, happiness and quality of life.
Long-term or chronic stress can affect almost every system in the body and make us more vulnerable to mental issues, such as:
It can also cause or exacerbate physical problems like:
- Heart disease
- Digestive issues
- Aches and pains
- Insomnia and other sleep disorders
- Low energy levels
- Headaches
- Auto-immune diseases
- Skin conditions
- Impotence
When to seek help for stress?
If you feel stress is interrupting your life, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a GP or counsellor/psychotherapist. Because of the widespread health issues stress can cause, the earlier you deal with these feelings the better.
Lots of people can deal with stress by themselves. But for those who struggle to keep their stress levels under control, professional counselling/psychotherapy may help. At The FORD Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, our professionally trained therapists can help you find ways to minimise the stress in your life and deal with it in a positive way.
Need help dealing with stress?
At the FORD Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, our professional therapists provide a safe, respectful and secure environment where you can discuss problems relating to stress. They will help you learn how to identify, alleviate and cope with stress in your everyday life.
