Anxiety
and Stress Management
Stress is a natural response to challenging or threatening situations that can cause mental and physical tension.
Stress is a tension that can go beyond what we feel is "normal" or logical, can be difficult to cope with, and even explain at times. Stress is our mind and bodies response to any demand, whether that is pressure at work or managing a relationship, to pulling our hand away from a hot stove or grabbing the dog before they step into a busy street; stress is a necessary part of our lives, so why does it sometimes feel so dramatic and out of control?
A healthy level of stress pushes us into action when we need to do something. But the boundary between healthy stress and anxiety can be hard to see and control. Anxiety happens when stress, fear, worry, or unease interferes with what we do on a daily basis. When these thoughts and feelings become too loud and persistent, finding a safe space inside our own heads can feel impossible.
We tend to overestimate danger or threats, and underestimate our coping skills/tools and our ability to cope with these stressors, this is what causes us to experience stress and anxiety. Some goals for therapy are to improve assertiveness, foster resilience, identifying negative thoughts and reframe them, practice awareness and acceptance of our thought patterns and increase understanding of where they come from (why they are showing up). Thoughts do not always equal behaviors. We will help you navigate your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so that you can gain back control of your life.
Is your stress too much?
Stress becomes out of control when we find ourselves backed into a corner, when we don't know what to do next or where to go. We are here to help. We have extensive training in anxiety which puts you and your worries into very knowledgeable hands. Do not let anxiety define who you think you are; getting you on track to living the life that you want, doing what makes you happy, and feeling more in control is some of what we can accomplish together. Everyones' stress looks different, so don't be deterred from therapy if you feel like your anxiety is "not bad enough." Getting help for stress management is something that everyone can benefit from; taking a look at what is working and what is not, then creating new intentional patterns of thinking, doing and feeling, that better meet your needs. Freedom from feeling trapped by your stress is within reach. All of our therapists have additional training in anxiety and are well equipped to support you through learning tools for stress, understanding anxiety/stress, and identifying where stress is coming from.
What we stress out about:
Feeling lonely or disconnected, pressure to perform or meet expectations at work, school, or home, difficulty managing relationships with friends and family, difficulty managing illness and loss, lack of organization or focus, feeling unproductive, lack of motivation, feeling like whatever your doing is just not cutting it. You may feel anxious or stressed when you feel out of control or when there you feel there is unknown in your life.
