Stress is an emotional and physical response to the pressures and demands of life. It is normal to experience occasional stress from time to time, but frequent or even chronic stress can have long-term implications. In addition to affecting your relationships and quality of life, ongoing stress can manifest with physical symptoms, such as anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, appetite changes, and tension headaches. Some people even turn to substance abuse or addiction when stress becomes unmanageable. Stress management therapy is about understanding that your physical, emotional and mental health is important and connected. Through therapy, you will learn ways to identify stress factors and avoid them or approach them in a new healthy and positive way.

What should I expect from stress management therapy?

The goal of stress management therapy is to help you learn ways of reducing stress from your life. In some cases, this means simply learning to say “no.” If it is not possible to avoid taking on responsibilities, you can learn ways of delegating tasks to other people. Therapy is about understanding that your physical, emotional and mental health is important and that you are the only one that can protect it.

What happens after I have completed stress management therapy?

Stress is a part of life, and you will continue to face stressful circumstances from time to time. You can use the tools learned in therapy to avoid feeling overwhelmed in the future and change your perspective on the negative factors affecting your life. This may include:

• Meditation or prayer
• Deep breathing
• Relaxation techniques
• Getting more sleep
• Exercising
• Eating more nutritiously