Stress & Adjustment

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What is stress?

Stress refers to your body’s response to difficult or distressing circumstances or events. These experiences activate your “flight or fight” response, releasing hormones that help you react quickly to avoid danger. 

The stress response can keep you alive; it can also help you focus on priorities to solve immediate problems. When the stress response remains activated after the immediate danger or circumstance has passed; however, it can lead to physical and emotional complications.

Which experiences cause stress?

Many types of experiences can cause stress. Not everyone responds the same way to such events, but certain kinds of situations do have a strong association with stress, such as:

• Difficult work or school environment
• Family struggles
• Divorce
• Financial problems

Life changes, both negative and positive, can also cause stress. Examples include childbirth, losing your job, or starting a new career, getting married, or moving to a new house.

Does stress cause symptoms?

Stress can affect your emotions, behavior, and physical wellness. Feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, anger, and sorrow often arise during times of stress.

Other common signs of stress include:

• Withdrawal from social interaction
• Irritability
• Difficulty making decisions
• Sleep disturbances
• Substance abuse
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Digestive issues

Prolonged stress can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, and addiction. 

Can treatment help with stress?

Yes, treatment can help you develop healthy ways to cope with stressful situations and the negative feelings they cause. The providers at Nugent Family Counseling Center design personalized care plans to help you identify underlying emotional issues, make life choices that reduce exposure to stress, and learn healthy ways to cope in times of difficulty. The team also addresses any co-occurring mental health conditions.

Based on your individual needs, your treatment plan might include:

• Medication management
• Psychotherapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Group therapy
• Aromatherapy
• Hypnosis
• Microcurrent electrical therapy

Neurofeedback at Nugent Family Counseling Center can help anxiety and depression caused by chronic stress. This non-invasive, drug-free procedure rewards brain activity in the areas of your brain that regulate mood, behavior, cognition, and other mental functions. Neurofeedback restores healthy brain function, which helps you work through your stress issues and avoid an extreme stress response in the future.

If chronic stress affects your daily life and personal relationships, schedule a consultation with a mental health expert at Nugent Family Counseling Center. Call the nearest location or book an appointment online today.