Understanding Stress: What Does It Mean for You?
The word “stress” is often used to describe a variety of feelings, but it can be quite abstract. When a client visits Fresh Start Counselling in Frome and says they feel stressed, it’s essential to unpack the sensations, emotions, and thoughts that they are experiencing. This helps us get to the crux of the situation: why, where, when, and how stress is affecting them.
- What does stress mean for you?
- When are you not stressed?
- Who makes you stressed?
- What was the worst stress you have ever felt?
These are some of the key questions we explore during counselling sessions to understand and address stress.
The Stress Scale: Measuring Your Stress Levels
At Fresh Start Counselling, I use a simple stress scale to help clients evaluate their current stress levels. The scale ranges from 1 to 7, with 1 indicating no stress at all and 7 indicating extreme stress. Right now, take a moment to assess yourself. What score would you give for how stressed you are feeling?
Chronic Stress: How Stress Can Impact Your Life
Has there been a specific event or a layering of events over time that has negatively affected you? This accumulation can lead to chronic stress, which has significant consequences on both mental and physical health. Chronic stress can manifest in various ways, such as:
- Stomach issues
- Breathing difficulties
- Skin problems
- Frequent migraines
- Constant muscle and bone pain
Stress often announces its presence by causing inflammation in the body. You might find yourself catching more colds or infections due to a weakened immune system. For instance, I believe my own experience with coeliac disease was triggered by a particularly stressful period in my life.
The Mind-Body Connection: Stress and Physical Health
A critical aspect of managing stress involves understanding the relationship between the mind and the body. For example, the gut-brain connection illustrates how emotional stress at work could lead to gastrointestinal problems, causing frequent trips to the toilet.
So, what comes first—the thought or the feeling? Is the stress creating physical ailments, or have physical issues sparked the stress? At Fresh Start Counselling, we work with both the mind and body to address these concerns, helping you manage stress holistically.
The Neurodivergent Experience: Unique Stress Challenges
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges that can contribute to stress. Anxiety, trauma, and depression are common outcomes of unmanaged stress, leading to an array of coping mechanisms, including:
- Reaching for drugs or alcohol
- Overeating
- Engaging in risky behaviours
- Impulse buying
When these stress levels remain high and accumulate over time, they can lead to burnout, shutdown, or meltdown. I offer tailored support for neurodivergent individuals to help them navigate and manage these stressors effectively.
My Personal Experience with Stress
One of the primary reasons I am passionate about helping others manage stress is my own experience with chronic stress and the unhealthy coping strategies I once used. With nine years of focused study and learning on the topic, I’ve realised that stress is a common thread in the lives of every client I work with. This shared experience drives my commitment to providing effective stress management strategies.
How Fresh Start Counselling in Frome Can Help
Managing stress isn’t something you have to do alone. At Fresh Start Counselling, I offer active listening and a curious, compassionate approach to understanding what has been stressing you. Together, we can develop personalised tools and techniques to lower your stress levels. We’ll identify which of your emotional needs aren’t being met and explore the inner resources you may not even realise you have.
Taking the First Step Towards Stress Relief
Lowering your stress levels will help you think more clearly and improve your overall well-being. Whether you need to take a few small steps or make significant changes, we’ll look at positive and achievable ways to get there.
If you’re ready to take control of your stress and work towards a healthier, more balanced life, reach out. You can fill in the contact form and arrange for a free, twenty-minute phone consultation to see if I am the best therapist to meet your needs.