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A tranquil plant in a garden representing mindfulness in time of stress

Stress

How can managing stress help you cultivate a more rewarding life?

Stress | Burnout

The stress and pressure of modern-day living is common. For many of us, juggling work, parenting, socializing, financial pressures, care-taking and other demands is part of life’s routine. And while some stress may serve us well, a constant state of stressing and feeling overwhelmed could take a toll on our physical and emotional health.

Building Stress Resilience for life

Life is always an exercise in the unexpected and stressful events will be inevitable.

Since you cannot always control the circumstances that occur, you can learn how to respond when they do.

The most effective method for building resilience to manage stress is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

In our stress-management work together, CBT is used in a few ways:

  • Identify Stressors

  • Develop Coping Strategies

  • Address Emotional Barriers

Our work together also blends in Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy- a set of strategies that combine practices such as increasing awareness of the present moment, deep- breathing, imagery and muscle relaxation with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Finally, stress-resilience work also supports you to identify and practice self-care strategies that help you achieve a healthier balance. This means that you are most able to prioritize yourself and manage the day to day stressors more effectively.

Over time, you learn to better recognize the triggers for your stress, and manage them effectively, no matter what you are moving through.

My Stress-Management Expertise:

A Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist (CCBT), my practice is informed by CBT for stress resilience training, and mindfulness practice. For chronic stress associated with trauma, I draw from my expertise of treating post-traumatic stress. In addition, I support stress resilience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach to navigating life’s many unexpected pivots.

Let’s collaborate to help you get on the other side of stress. There is no better time to lighten your load and get back to thriving.

What are the effects of stress?

The negative impact of stress begins when our many competing demands elicit a stress response that becomes too frequent or prolonged.

When this happens, our brain releases elevated levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) and we are more likely to experience physical symptoms including:

  • Headaches

  • Aches and pains

  • Nausea / abdominal pains

  • Chest pain /palpitations

  • Dizziness

  • Breathlessness

Additionally, ongoing stress effects our thinking processes and emotional well-being. They include: Cognitive Impact:

  • Inability to concentrate

  • Memory issues

  • Racing / anxious / worrying thoughts

  • Intrusive thinking

Emotional Impact:

  • Moodiness / irritability

  • Feeling hopeless and dreadful

  • Feeling angry / experiencing outbursts

  • Lacking motivation

  • Feeling isolated and alone

When stress is prolonged, we may also:

  • Experience trouble sleeping

  • Withdraw from our loved ones

  • Eat too much, too little or rely on highly caffeinated and sugary food to cope with fatigue

  • Use alcohol or substances to cope with overwhelm

Left unaddressed, stress can quickly lead to burnout- a chronic stress state caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout can leave you feeling completely overwhelmed, exhausted and unable to cope, 'wired', frazzled, resentful or hopeless.

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