Stress Stress Stress
If you are anything like me, and the thousands of other people, you are probably very familiar with stress. You have been dating for a while now. It is a familiar and weirdly comfortable relationship, but it can get a wee bit abusive sometimes. Shall we start with some relationship counselling to get stress to smarten up?
To be completely honest with you…don’t shoot the messenger!!!…stress will always be a part of your life, even if you divorce it 😉 We just need to decide if we are BFF’s, acquaintances or, at least, healthy mature partners. Since stress is a stalker and a creeper, we may as well get friendly with that little devil if it is going to be in our lives.
I started thinking this week about what interventions I do in counselling sessions to help people understand, manage and reduce stress. So, I put this nifty little graphic together (below) to help conceptualize the facets of stress. The way I see stress management/reduction is in a step-by-step process starting with Stress Knowledge (or at least a process of practice in all 5 areas). It is so important to understand what stress is neurologically and physiologically. Knowing what this horrible feeling is shows you that you are actually very normal and just an over-achiever 😉 The reaction is very functional and helpful in our survival but when we over use it, it becomes a pain in the &$$ in our life. Over the next few weeks I will slowly hand feed you (so I don’t stress you!) with some stress relationship advice and strategies to help you repair your relationship with stress. Each post will have a little bit of Stress Knowledge, some Self-Awareness strategies to help make this process personal to you, some strategies to kick your brain’s butt and develop a stress busting Attitude and a side of some Coping Skills to help you communicate better in your relationship with stress.
Stress 101: Some Knowledge to Empower You
How Stress Effects Your Brain
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Signs of Stress
Everyone reacts to stress differently. However, some common signs and symptoms of the fight or flight response include:
- Frequent headaches.
- Cold or sweaty hands and feet.
- Frequent heartburn, stomach pain or nausea.
- Panic attacks.
- Excessive sleeping, or insomnia.
- Persistent difficulty concentrating.
- Obsessive or compulsive behaviors.
- Social withdrawal or isolation.
- Constant fatigue.
- Irritability and angry episodes.
- Significant weight gain or loss.
- Consistent feelings of being overwhelmed or overloaded.
Self-Awareness: Personality and Stress
Take This Quiz: CLICK HERE
Check This Out: Stress Tips for Your Personality Temperament
Positive Mental State
Try a Guided Meditation – 20 Minutes
Attitude
5 Steps on How to Build Resilience
Coping Skills: Breaking Up with Stress
…or at least repairing the relationship…
Your relationship with stress can change.
Be patient, lean in, try new strategies and shape the life you want.
#MakeGoodThingsHappen
Dr. Heather Drummond, C.Psych.
Psychologist * Passionate Advocate for Flourishing * A Human Muddling Through
#EmbraceThisMessyLife