Resolving Stress – Related Symptoms and Illnesses
Stress has always been a part of our daily lives, beginning with the fight or flight response we inherited from our early ancestors. Many of our stresses are natural everyday responses to situations where we react in a stimulated way. This type of stress could be viewed as ‘positive’ or ‘necessary’ stress because without it we would probably lead quite inactive, dull and directionless lives. As James Tighe (from BBC Health) pointed out:
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'Stress in itself isn’t necessarily harmful. Everyone needs goals and challenges. But too much can be damaging.'
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In our current society, people are increasingly experiencing too much stress, or what could be called ‘negative’ stress. This is the type of stress that can make you feel overwhelmed and jittery. Stress is a well-known trigger for depression and it can also affect your physical health.
There are a limitless number of triggers for stress, however the following are generally accepted as being in the top dozen: any sort of loss, from bereavement, divorce and separation to a child leaving home; long-term illness and disability; marriage; moving house; a new job; holidays and work.
The symptoms of negative stress are well known to us, and include:
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Increased irritability
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Heightened sensitivity to criticism
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Signs of tension, such as nail-biting
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Difficulty getting to sleep and early morning waking
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Drinking and smoking more
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Indigestion
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Loss of concentration
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We all have a level of stress, including negative stress, which is manageable for us. This level will vary from person to person and is dependent upon a number of factors, for example, self-confidence and self-esteem, stability of lifestyle and relationships, unresolved issues from our past. So, as long as we keep our stress levels below our individual limit, we are likely to be able to function effectively. However, if we are operating at our individual limit all the time, any additional stress (even something very small) may tip the balance and move us from a position of experiencing a manageable level of stress, to a situation where we are feeling completely overloaded or out of control.
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What is important when thinking about our stress levels is the degree to which our response to a certain trigger has been either appropriate or disproportionate. Equally important to consider is the degree to which stress is beginning to seep into all aspects of our lives.
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How Hypnotherapy Can Help
If you are suffering with stress that is related to a specific event, for example, if you are due to make a long journey or perhaps you are in the middle of a particularly busy time, then hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy can enable you to reduce your stress levels and to feel more relaxed and in control.
It can provide you with a greater sense of self; it can boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it can help you build on your self-belief and you can have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured. Hypnosis is well documented as being wonderfully relaxing and effective at reducing stress levels.
IAEBP therapists have substantial experience of helping people to reduce their worries and stress in relation to specific events, and you could need just one session a week or two before the event in question.
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Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Anxiety
Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that your stress levels are having a limiting effect upon your life? Perhaps you are not sleeping well at night? Perhaps you are constantly having arguments with those around you? Or perhaps you are beginning to take significant time away from work due to your high stress levels?
But do you brood or over-think or over-analyse constantly? In a word, do you think too much? In these circumstances we believe that you would benefit most from the course of psychotherapy known as beliefs work. By taking this course, you will learn to manage your thinking and your responses to stress.
Some people are burdened with a difficult past. Though it is true that learning to manage your thinking better will enable you to see your past in a different way, there are sometimes events that were unresolved or never understood. In these cases, specialist uncovering and recovery work is helpful. The purpose of these therapies, like Analysis or Coherence Therapy, is the production of healing known now as Memory Reconsolidation. By discussing these issues with your therapist when you first meet, they will be able to suggest ways forward to help you to fully resolve the issues which are affecting your ability to cope with your daily stressors, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach to life in the future.