Our therapists at Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. help people who are experiencing stress in their lives. We all deal with stress differently. Our ability to cope can depend on our genetics, early life events, personality and social and economic circumstances.
When we encounter stress, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. This helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations.
Sometimes, this stress response can be helpful. It can help us push through fear or pain so we can run a marathon or deliver a speech, for example. Our stress hormones usually return to normal quickly once the stressful event is over, and there won’t be any lasting effects.
However, too much stress can cause adverse effects. It can leave us in a permanent stage of fight or flight, leaving us overwhelmed or unable to cope. Long term, this can affect our physical and mental health.
What makes us stressed?
Many things can lead to stress: bereavement, divorce or separation, losing a job or unexpected money problems. Work-related stress can also have a negative impact on your mental health. People affected by work-related stress lose an average of 24 days of work due to ill health.
Even positive life changes, such as moving to a bigger house, gaining a job promotion or going on holiday, can be sources of stress. If you feel stressed in these situations, you may struggle to understand why or be unwilling to share your feelings with others.
What are the signs of stress?
How you might feel:
anxious
afraid
angry or aggressive
sad
irritable
frustrated
depressed
These feelings can sometimes produce physical symptoms, making you feel even worse.
How your body might react:
headaches
nausea
indigestion
digestive problems
shallow breathing or hyperventilating
sweating
heart palpitations
aches and pains
How you might behave:
withdraw from other people or snap at them
be indecisive or inflexible
be tearful
have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep
experience sexual problems
substance abuse
If the stress is long-lasting, you may notice your sleep and memory are affected, your eating habits change, or you feel less inclined to exercise.
Some research has also linked long-term stress to gastrointestinal conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or stomach ulcers and conditions like cardiovascular disease.
Who is affected by stress and can benefit from stress counseling?
All of us can probably recognize some of the feelings described above. Some people seem to be more affected by stress than others. For some people, getting out of the door on time each morning can be a very stressful experience, whereas others may be less affected by a great deal of pressure.
Some people are more likely to experience stressful situations than others. For example:
people with a lot of debt or financial insecurity are more likely to be stressed about money
people from minority ethnic groups or who are LGBTQIA+ are more likely to be stressed about prejudice or discrimination
people with disabilities or long-term health conditions are more likely to be stressed about their health or the stigma associated with them
If you continue to feel overwhelmed by stress, don’t be afraid to seek help from one of our experienced stress counselors at Star Point Counseling Center in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Getting help as soon as possible is important so you can start feeling better.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help reduce stress by changing the ways you think about stressful situations
brief interpersonal counselling, which can give you the chance to talk about what causes you stress and develop coping strategies
Call us at 813-244-1251 to schedule an appointment to see one of our experienced stress counselors at Star Point Counseling Center.
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