Stress can affect any of us at any time. Whilst some people seem to thrive on stress, for others it causes them great difficulties. It can also cause physical changes in the body – due to the production of adrenaline – causing reactions such as a pounding heart, quickening breath, tense muscles, and sweating. This is sometimes known as the fight or flight response. Once the threat or difficulty passes, these physical effects usually fade. However, if you’re constantly stressed, your body stays in a state of high alert and you may develop stress-related symptoms. Stress can affect how you feel emotionally, mentally and physically, and also how you behave. You may feel emotionally overwhelmed, irritable, anxious or fearful. Your self esteem can also suffer. You may subsequently have racing thoughts, be constantly worried, have difficulty concentrating or an inability to make decisions. If you feel that stress is starting to take over your life, your therapist at The Eaves can offer a safe space to talk through what is concerning you. They can also help you to find solutions and coping strategies.
Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation where we don’t feel we can manage or control.
Sometimes, a small amount of stress can help us to complete tasks and feel more energised. But stress can become a problem when it lasts for a long time or is very intense. In some cases, stress can affect our physical and mental health.
Stress is not normally considered a mental health problem. But it is connected to our mental health in several ways, for example, anxiety, depression, PTSD.