Chronic Stress Therapy

Stress: A little goes a long way

It isn’t easy to identify chronic stress, so let us explore these questions:

  • Are you having difficulties taking care of yourself or doing the things that you enjoy?

  • Do minor inconveniences or disruptions seem like too much to handle?

  • Have you been finding yourself always feeling worried about something, even if you can’t identify what it is you’re worried about?

  • Are you feeling irritated and moody?

You may be experiencing the effects of chronic stress.

Healthy stress can be helpful because our bodies release adrenaline that allows us to focus and accomplish tasks. However, stress becomes debilitating when it is persistent and constant. If you are experiencing chronic stress, you may have become accustomed to feeling this way, but you do not have to live your life waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Chronic stress impacts our minds, but it also has a major influence on our bodies. Chronic stress occurs when the body experiences stressors at an intensity or frequency where the parasympathetic nervous system is incapable of returning the body to homeostasis. This means that your body is experiencing a constant state of physiological arousal.

What are the physical impacts of chronic stress?

  • Muscle tension and pain

  • Decreased energy

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Fatigue

  • Gastrointestinal complaints

  • Headaches

  • Restlessness

Treating chronic stress can improve your quality of life

At this practice, treating chronic stress begins with exploring the history of stressors in your life. Different stressors include emotional stress, environmental stress, relationship stress, and work stress. Together, we will identify negative thought patterns that have contributed to chronic stress and begin to shift these thoughts to more realistic and helpful ones.

Using a strengths-based therapy technique, we will also explore what avenues have worked for you in the past for managing your stress levels. In addition, new techniques and methods will be introduced to help you take control of the how you respond to your stressors. Since chronic stress impacts our bodies, treatment will also focus on utilizing somatic techniques to address the mind-body connection and the physical manifestations of stress, such as muscle tension, fast heartrate, and rapid breathing.

You will find support in reaching your therapy goals by strengthening the methods that have worked for you previously as well as exploring new strategies that may help in managing symptoms of chronic stress.

You may still have questions about chronic stress treatment…

Since everyone’s experiences are unique and complex, you may still be wondering about the intricacies of therapy for chronic stress. Please feel free to reach out here to book a free consultation to discuss this further.