Lots of individuals need help coping with stress – it’s not anything to be  ashamed about! Give yourself permission to get help if you need it. Stress is a normal part of life but if your stress is persistent or keeps getting worse, you may need extra support. Over time, stress can lead to more complicated issues related to mental health like depression, anxiety or other disorders.

Do not hesitate to seek for help if you are feeling hopeless, worthless or experiencing lack of motivation. Talk to a mental health professional and your doctor about depression. If you are feeling anxious, nervous, and worry explore different ways to deal with anxiety. Or maybe you have lived through an unsafe and unexpected event, then you probably want to talk with a professional about prescribing a treatment for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

At times it is difficult to determine if your stress is due to short-term issues, or maybe it is more significant and can become chronic stress.

Check the following:

Short-term stress:

___Do you have too much to accomplish and a short amount of time to do it?

___Are you experiencing many different minor problems in the same day such as a slow traffic, and running late for work, school or an appointment?

___Are getting lost trying to find a new address?

___Are you having random arguments with a family member, your boss or a friend?

Long-term stress:

___Persistent problems at work or at home

___Financial problems that are causing you problems in other areas of your life

___Caring for someone with a serious or terminal illness

___Chronic or ongoing health problems

___Death of a significant or loved one

 

After you can identify what is causing your stress and you determine if you are suffering from chronic stress, you may want to learn about the benefits of stress management:

• Sleep better
• Weight control
• Feeling physically and mentally healthy
• Recovering faster after being sick
• Decrease of muscle (often neck, back and shoulders) pain
• Be in a more stable mood
• Able to get along better with your loved ones

At Swinton & Associates Counseling we can help you to learn more about how to manage your chronic stress symptoms and support you in identifying possible underlying issues that can be triggering this stress. You will be on your way to a happier life!