What Causes Stress?
Sometimes the body develops a habit of going into a state of stress in inappropriate situations. When blood flow is only directed to the most important muscles needed to fight or flee, brain function is minimized. This can lead to trouble thinking clearly, affecting our social, work, and home life. People experience stress in different ways.
It can be hard to identify stress as the cause of a person’s behavior if you don’t react the same way. Anytime you deal with a difficult person, it can be helpful to consider that their behavior might be the result of stress.
If you find yourself dealing with stress more and more, consider acute stress disorder treatment to reduce symptoms.
Cognitive effects of stress include:
- Judgment lapses
- Ambivalence
- Difficulty finishing tasks
- Self-doubt
- Memory problems
Signs of emotional effects of stress include:
- Depression
- Frustration
- Moodiness
- Anxiety
- Fatalistic thinking
- Irritability
The following are some physical effects of stress:
- Chest pain
- Aches and pains
- Rapid heartbeat
- Frequent colds
- Stomach problems
Behavioral effects of stress include:
- Going out (to avoid thinking about what’s causing stress)
- Self-isolation
- Loss of motivation
- Use of mind-altering substances
- Posture changes
- Over-exercising
- Lethargy
Prolonged stress can have drastic effects on a person’s mental and physical state. Doctors have linked stress to heart disease, hypertension, high blood pressure, stroke, digestive problems, ulcers, diabetes, allergies, headaches, and joint pain. Moderating stress is easier for some people than others. Having trouble managing stress is not a weakness or deficiency; it is merely an absence of tools to cope with stress.
If you find yourself struggling to manage stress in your everyday life, a therapist at Remedy Therapy Behavioral Health may be able to help. We take a holistic approach to mental health treatment, and we have the best therapists in the Palm Beach Gardens area.
Stress Management Techniques
The following are some techniques proven to help manage stress in your everyday life:
- Prioritize your health
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Practice deep breathing
- Stay hydrated
- Eat a healthy diet
- Be grateful
- Exercise
- Stay positive
- Put down your phone
- Learn to say no
- Spend 10-minutes working on an essential task that you don’t enjoy (and tend to avoid)
- Be thankful for what you have
Manage stress at work by doing the following:
- Recognize when others are becoming stressed and implement strategies you practice with your therapist.
- Take a stress test with your colleagues.
- Try to recognize when you first start to feel stressed.
- Breathe deeply and slowly.
- Save funny videos on your phone to use in case you start to get stressed out.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Fill in the blank: “At least I didn’t ______.”
- Spend some time outside, if possible.
- Focus on helping others instead of yourself.
- Talk to others about how they deal with stress.
- Finish assignments a week before they’re due.
Stress Reduction at Remedy Therapy Behavioral Health
Millions of people in the United States suffer from high levels of stress. While stress-relief strategies might work for some, many people show more improvement through therapy. Stress can contribute to anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. Understanding the things that cause us stress is an important first step. Stress can affect family dynamics when it isn’t managed.
Remedy Therapy Behavioral Health’s positive and family-centered approach will help you solve problems and strengthen your bond as a family. Our counseling staff has the experience, education, demeanor, and patience to help your family overcome challenges and gain practical communication skills.
At Remedy Therapy Behavioral Health, we offer the following types of family therapy:
If stress and anxiety are stopping you from living your life, Remedy Therapy Behavioral Health can help you break the cycle. In today’s world, it’s so important for people to make their mental health a priority. No matter how insurmountable your problems might feel, our research-based, outpatient treatment approach can help people manage their mental health. Contact us today at (888) 894-4814 to learn more about our unique therapy programs.
