Stress
We often associate stress with a physical or mental imbalance caused by environmental issues that we find overwhelming or difficult to manage. Stress is the result of experiencing demands and challenges that we feel forced to deal with and if the internal and external resources we experience to have access to are insufficient to meet those demands – we will feel stressed.
Reactions and symptoms of stress
Stress reactions are diverse and lead to physiological and chemical changes in both the body and brain. These changes can contribute to various diseases, including a compromised immune system.
Symptoms of stress include:
- muscle tension and pain in the neck, shoulders and back
- headaches
- fatigue
- confusion
- poor memory
- emotional fluctuations
- sleep problems
- low self-acceptance
- pessimism
- lack of desire to socialise with friends, colleagues and family
- lack of a sense of purpose in life
Acute stress and chronic stress
Everyone is different, and some people can cope with more stress caused by life changes and challenges than others. There is a difference between an emergency situation that creates stress and a long-term stress condition that has become chronic. The external demands we experience also depend on our interpretations and our ability to cope with these demands and whether we have a well-regulated immune system.
Stress management
As a psychologist, my role is to help you navigate and cope with health challenges and foster self-determination, empowering you to make meaningful choices in your life and prevent burnout. Together, we’ll do a reality check to help you avoid uncritically accepting the constant stream of thoughts that we humans all experience. We’ll identify the stressful situation(s) and explore how it has prevented you from taking action to make more appropriate changes. There may be untapped resources and skills, either within yourself or within your social network, that are worth exploring and could greatly benefit you in the future. You’ll learn the skills to accept limitations and focus on opportunities.
During stress therapy, we mainly focus on regaining a sense of control and influence over your own life. Hope and future prospects become more manageable, and the ability to express thoughts and feelings also increases your ability to speak up and to set some healthy boundaries. Together, we’ll assess how you currently take care of yourself—examining factors like sleep, exercise and diet—which can significantly impact how quickly you recover from your current stress state.
Methods of treatment
As you know, all roads lead to Rome, and there are many treatments and methods that can relieve stress. Under my profile you can see the different educations and courses I have received over the years. My professional judgment combined with your personal preferences will guide us to determine the best path to ensure a stress-free future. The most commonly used evidence-based methods that I follow are: ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Body and Gestalt Therapy, Hypnosis, EMDR and various forms of meditation including mindfulness and MSC (Mindful Self-Compassion). I also recommend that you take a course in MSC.
