Stress

Searching for stress management Borehamwood? There are some very clear distinctions between stress and anxiety and this page will tell you about the types of stress I treat here at Behavioural Freedom but for an answer to the question ‘what is stress’, please go to the What is Stress & Anxiety page.

One of the fundamental and often-quoted differences is that anxiety is permanent but stress comes and goes dependent on the situation you find yourself in.

You feel stressed when there’s too much to do and can’t find time to fit it all in; you feel stressed at the end of the month when there’s not enough money left; you feel stressed when you have issues with colleagues or bosses and you feel stressed before you get married, move house or have a baby.

The point is, stress isn’t always caused by a negative event, nor is it a medical diagnosis but to overcome it you need to be aware of the things that have caused it. It’s important to note here that every one of us has suffered from stress at one time or another and it’s a completely normal reaction to feelings of pressure.

At Behavioural Freedom I will free you from the unwanted behaviours that prohibit you from living the life you want to live. I will free you from the uncomfortable, negative and often debilitating feelings of stress that are generally associated with change and the lack of control over what’s happening during the transition. I will also give you the freedom to focus on moving forward with positivity, a fresh outlook on life and the knowledge that you can do anything you put your mind to.

‘Stress’ is a catch-all term for the overriding feelings you experience when life gets on top of you and you don’t think you can handle everything thrown at you. What I will tell you is that you have phenomenal capacity to cope with seemingly overwhelming situations, just as long as you have the right tools. Behavioural Freedom will equip you with the tools you need to divert stress when you feel it coming.
For stress management Borehamwood, please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.

Types of Stress

The symptoms of stress are in three distinct forms – physical, psychological and behavioural.

  • Physical Symptoms such as Low Energy, Headaches, Insomnia, Teeth Grinding, Aches
  • Psychological Symptoms such as Agitation, Low Self-Esteem, Frustration, Moodiness
  • Behavioural Symptoms such as Procrastination, Nail Biting, Smoking, Drinking, Pacing

As with the root causes of anxiety, the symptoms above aren’t exhaustive but should you feel stress and you notice an increased occurrence of these or similar symptoms, PLEASE contact me today. It could very well be the most important call you make this year.

Stress and Your Health

As I mentioned, stress isn’t a medical diagnosis in the same way that depression is. Although the human body is conditioned to recognise, experience and react to stress (both positively and negatively), if your levels of stress continue untreated, they can turn into ‘distress’ which does have physical symptoms including high blood pressure, chest pains, migraines and upset stomachs. In addition, stress can become more harmful if you turn to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs in a vain attempt to self-administer relief.

Workplace Stress

Stress at work is common. It’s very common. According to the Health & Safety Executive, stress affects 20% of the working population, it’s the single biggest cause of workplace sickness in the UK and over 10.5m working days are lost to stress each year – costing British employers around £1.3bn.

In addition, the NHS suggests that one in five of all GP visits are aligned to psychological issues, including stress, anxiety and depression. The occupations with the highest rates are social work, teaching and public administration.

There are a whole host of reasons why you may feel out of control or stressed at work –

Heavy & Growing Workload • More Responsibility • Longer Hours • Bullying, Harassment & Ill-Discipline • Fears of Redundancy • Lack of Prospects or Job Security • Poor Hierarchical Support

For some, the adrenaline released during periods of stress can act as an energiser, giving them increased motivation to get out of the slump they find themselves in but for others, it can feel like a downward spiral from which there is no return.

Whether you have a specific concern or challenge at work or you feel overwhelmed due to a number of factors, Behavioural Freedom will work closely with you to banish the negativity and put you back on a path of positive thoughts and actions. I will give you a new lease of life that will make you look at going into work in a whole new light.

How I Treat Stress

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating stress. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally, positively and permanently change the way you behave, think, act and react. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to combat stress and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of stress.

For stress management Borehamwood, please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.