Stress Management – Therapists in Buffalo, NY
There is no such thing as a stress-free living. Everyone has some amount of stress in their life. Some have less, others have more. But not all stress is bad. In small doses, stress can help us deal with pressure-filled situations, and even drive us to levels of achievement that we never thought we could reach. Stress keeps us alert, motivates us, and helps us avoid danger.
Stress is primarily a physical response. When someone feels stressed, the body feels like it is under attack. The natural way the body deals with this is by going into “flight or fight” mode. In other words, one chooses whether to stay and fight, or run away. Going into this “fight or flight” mode can be very useful out in the real world. It’s what allows people to respond well to danger or threats.
However, stress can cause problems when it manifests itself in inappropriate situations. During these times, when the body goes into “fight” mode, brain function is minimized. The brain senses that it is time to act, not think. This can lead to poor decision making, impulsive negative behaviors, and anger. Spending too much time in “fight” mode has significant negative effects on people’s personal and professional lives.
When the body goes into “flight” mode, it leads people to run away from the stressors that are causing the stress. However, in most situations, simply removing oneself from the cause of the stress will not relieve the stress, and “flight” (e.g., avoidance) can make the original problem worse and ultimately lead to the stress level rising even more. As stress starts building up more and more, it can lead to serious physical, psychological, and emotional distress in the body.
Is there an alternative to the negative impact of stress? The therapists at Thriveworks Buffalo have equipped many clients with healthy coping strategies for handling stress. Flight or fight are not the only options: you can thrive.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
There are many signs of elevated stress levels, both physical and emotional. A few (but not all) include…
- chronic headaches
- joint pain
- upset stomach
- easily-triggered anger
- irritability
- panic attacks
- feeling overwhelmed
- trouble sleeping and/or nightmares
- memory loss
- impulsive behavior
Stress has many and varied causes, and each person has unique triggers for stress. Stress can develop for many different reasons, including but not limited to: grief from the death of a spouse or loved-one; relationship issues like divorce or a break-up; a serious injury, chronic pain or illness; job loss or other problems at work; physical health problems with children and family; financial problems; difficulty at school with friends or teachers; moving to a new home; and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, guilt, or low self-esteem.
There are several things that people can do to help relieve stress. Being mindful of these things while dealing with stress is very important. Some of the stress relievers people can practice on their own include: eating properly, drinking enough fluids, regularly getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and spending more time with family and loved-ones.
While some stress can be relieved through self-care, oftentimes, people need more support. If you find yourself over-stressed, and are ready for some help, it may be time to start a relationship with a Thriveworks Buffalo stress therapist. At Thriveworks Buffalo, we have caring, experienced stress-management therapists who want to help you to cope with the daily stress in your life. They will listen to you, and create a personal plan uniquely suited to you. Through counseling for stress, you may learn techniques to:
- Deal with the stress built up inside of you.
- Lower those stress levels.
- Learn how to cope with various stressful situations when they arise.
Scheduling an Appointment
You do not have to go through life feeling stressed all the time. Contact Thriveworks Buffalo today for help, and start working towards a life with much less stress. Here are a few things we have done to make scheduling an appointment less stressful:
- A person will answer your call and help you make an appointment.
- Many first-time clients see their therapist within 24 hours of their call.
- We have after-hour appointments available.
- Our therapists accept many forms of insurance.
You can thrive! We can help! Call us at (716) 541-0841 to make an appointment.
