Stress

Stress is a normal part of life, in that it is experienced by everyone from time to time. However, some people suffer from stress which is so frequent or so severe that it can seriously impact on their quality of life. 

Some people are aware of what tends to trigger their stress and this increases their ability to either prevent stress or handle it more effectively. We can work together in identifying your triggers and put strategies in place so you can better manage and break the vicious cycle of stress. Some things will be beyond your control, for example if you work a job that is based towards deadlines then you can’t change this without changing jobs. But perhaps you can control some aspects, such as scheduling to have a lunch break each day, or to go bed earlier so that you have more energy to cope with the daytime.

Stress can come from a huge range of sources (stressors), such as:

  • Relationships with others
  • Work-related issues
  • Study demands
  • Coping with illness
  • Life changes, such as marriage, retirement, divorce
  • Day-to-day activities and tasks
  • Positive events, such as organising holidays or parties
  • Juggling many roles or tasks at the same time

“I cannot control what goes on outside. But I can control what goes on inside.”

– Wayne Dyer, Philosopher

Several types of factors can trigger stress:

Common symptoms of stress include:

  • Irritability or moodiness
  • Interrupted sleep
  • Worrying or feeling of anxiety
  • Back and neck pain
  • Frequent headaches or migraine
  • Upset stomach
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Changes in appetite
  • Rashes or skin breakouts
  • Chest pains

“Stress is something that's created in the mind, basically, our greatest defense against stress is the ability to change our minds; to change our thinking.”

– Goldie Hawn, Actress, Producer

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“Stress is caused by being HERE and wanting to be THERE.”

– Eckhart Tolle

Our work together

When mindfulness, body relaxation, visualisation and breathing techniques are introduced when working with anxiety and stress, clients express feeling a calmer approach therapeutically by observing their physical sensations and emotions. These act as a barometer for your health and well-being, learning the triggers and early warning signals of stress long before it’s allowed to escalate into full-blown anxiety.

Counselling can help you find the time to sit quietly and alone with yourself reflecting on your life more compassionately and without judgement. Paying attention to your feelings and sensations in the present moment, rather than getting caught up in excessive preoccupations with the past or imagined future catastrophe.

Additional areas of counselling I work with:

  • Abortion
  • Accident
  • Affairs and betrayal
  • Anger management
  • Pre-Bereavement, Bereavement
  • Bullying
  • Cancer
  • Career
  • Carer support
  • Change
  • Child related issues
  • Chronic boredom
  • Dating
  • Domestic violence
  • Drug and alcohol abuse (Substance misuse)
  • Eating disorders
  • Elderly issues
  • Emptiness
  • Emotional abuse
  • Family issues
  • Financial concerns/ debt
  • Gambling
  • Generalised anxiety disorder
  • Historical abuse
  • Infatuation
  • Infertility
  • Insecurities
  • Intrusive thoughts
  • Judgement
  • Loneliness
  • Loss
  • Miscarriage
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Obsession
  • Panic disorder
  • Passive aggressive behaviour
  • Perfectionism
  • Phobias
  • Physical abuse
  • Pregnancy and birth
  • Redundancy
  • Relocation
  • Retirement
  • Shyness
  • Separation and divorce
  • Sex problem
  • Sexuality
  • Smoking
  • Spending
  • Spirituality
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Wedding nerves
  • Work-related stress