What is stress?
Stress is a normal reaction to outside stimuli that challenge us. Circumstances, events and situations can bring on the stress response which is totally natural and totally normal and it sets the body ready to perform a fight or fight response.
In survival situations, the fight or flight response is useful however when we suffer from extreme or chronic stress our body suffers because it is continuously preparing for fight or flight even when such a response is not necessary.
Types of stress
Stress is an almost daily occurrence. We can often worry needlessly about a variety of things which may cause various levels of anxiety. We often worry about future events and imagine negative outcomes which can keep us in a stressed stressed state even when the event that has been causing the worry is over – or never arrives.
Stress is part of life. How our minds deal with it allows it to be managed or spiral out of control. When stress is left unchecked it can devastate lives and manifest itself in physical symptoms.
Mental health
Stress can have a domino effect on our lives. When stress becomes so severe that it causes physical health conditions it also affects our mental and emotional states. When a person is physically and mentally exhausted through stress they can become irritable and angry as they struggle to cope. This irritability and anger may affect relationships, family and work. People often attempt to relieve feelings of stress by overeating, excessive alcohol consumption or smoking – all of which will exacerbate poor physical health and can lead to other mental health issues such as self-harm, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem.
Signs and symptoms
- Flashbacks, nightmares or night-time terrors
- Feelings of depression
- Isolation, loneliness and confusion
- Insomnia and irritability
- Hyper-alertness and hyper vigilance
- Inappropriate anger
- Excessive drink or drug use
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self harm or harming others
- Severe mood swings and aggression
- Having loved ones commenting that you are somehow behaving differently from before i.e. “out of character”
Anxiety
Stress is commonly linked with anxiety. Signs and symptoms of anxiety may include:
- Panic attacks
- OCD
- Agrophobia
- Dread of the future
- Insomnia
- A feeling of always “being on guard”
How we help
By looking at the route causes of the anxiety we gently and positively enable you to understand where it stems from and make the changes necessary to move forward.
Contact us to see if the Paradigm Approach is for you:
infot2m@yahoo.co.uk to find out more information of what we do
sharon@yahoo.co.uk to find out how you can book onto a change programme
You can call 07917126708 and speak to Talking 2 Minds Course Coordinator directly.
info@paradigmtrainingsolutions.co.uk to find out more information of what we do and how you can book onto a training program.
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