Issues We Treat | Stress Management

Stress Management

Stress is a reaction to both short-lived problems from day to day, such as being late to a meeting, and long-lasting circumstances like marriage difficulties.  When you become so stressed that your emotional and physical health begin to suffer, it may be beneficial to come in for counseling and stress management.  Stress can cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating and irritability, which can affect many different areas of life such as relationships and career.  People become stressed out by different things and to different degrees. We will work to find out what in particular causes excessive stress in your life. Acute stress is a common form of stress which results from the pressure of recent events and future demands.  It usually does not last for a long time, and can be identified by many different signs.  Emotional symptoms of acute stress include anger, anxiety, and depression.  You may experience physical symptoms like tension headaches, jaw pain, and back or other muscle tension.  Stress can also cause stomach problems, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, dizziness, cold hands and feet, and shortness of breath.  There are many negative effects of stress on the body, though they are very often ignored.  Chronic stress can be debilitating and cause burnout. Many times, stress can be a result of trying to control our environmental circumstances, rather than focusing on how we react to such situations.  Ethos therapists will teach you Mindfulness techniques to deal with the physical and emotional symptoms of stress, such as progressive muscle relaxation and body awareness, breathing exercises, and guided imagery.  If you are dealing with stress due to conflict at work, school or with other relationships, we can work on social skills and conflict management to help you be able to face anxiety-producing situations. We can help you identify the impact of stress on your life and take the right steps to cope and to make positive changes.