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Stress is a natural part of life for many people- a reaction to challenging circumstances that forms part of the body’s natural “fight or and flight” response.
Pressure at work, difficult relationships at home and concerns about money or health can all cause feelings of stress and anxiety to interfere with your ability to function.
Stress affects a huge proportion of the population- 45% of Australians report feeling stressed at work and over a third report having significant distress in their lives. Stress is also a major cause of illness and increases the risk of developing mental illnesses like anxiety disorders and depression.
If stress is impacting your ability to cope with the pressures of your lifestyle then our mental health professional can help you using supportive and evidence-based counselling.
Stress can be brought on by prolonged exposure to challenging life circumstances. Common causes include:
It can also be caused or compounded by personality factors such as perfectionism or high levels of self-criticism. Anxiety, depression and other disorders can also increase your susceptibility to stress.
Stress is experienced as part of the body’s natural reaction to danger and difficulty. This reaction includes an increased heart rate and a rise in blood pressure as well as the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol in the brain. Long-term exposure to these changes causes a range of emotional and cognitive effects along with physical side effects can also manifest, including:
These symptoms should not be ignored- stress can seriously harm your health as well as reducing your ability to cope with difficult life circumstances. If you suffer from these symptoms then it’s time to do something about it. Stress might be seen as a normal part of life for a lot of people but you don’t have to live with it- consult with a professional who can offer the right guidance to face all of life’s challenges.
With effective, person-centred stress assessment and therapy from Angus Munro Psychology, you can overcome the effects of this mental illness and develop ways to better manage your life and cope with the pressures you face. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective approach to deal with stress. We will help you learn how to reduce the demands you place on yourself and increase your resources for managing the stressors in your life. The expert counsellors or a psychologist at our Sydney clinic can work with you to take back control of your work and home life and give you a more positive and resilient outlook on your circumstances.
Effective stress counselling encompasses a set of skills that enable one to anticipate, prevent, manage, and recover from the wear and tear brought on by perceived threats and coping deficiencies. We can tailor an evidence-based stress management program to help you move from coping to thriving.
Let us help you live a better life! Book an appointment with Angus Munro Psychology near your area now.
2 Warwick Avenue, Cammeray,
Sydney, NSW (2062)
Email: inquiries@ampsych.com.au
Phone: 0290561779
It becomes a problem, however, when the on and off button for our stress response gets stuck in the on position. We experience the heightened vigilance and physiological symptoms even when there is no objective danger. The constant flood of hormones that make us feel tense, alert, and on edge keeps coming, despite our best efforts to turn the switch off.
Some of the physical symptoms of stress are muscular tension, aches and pains, rapid heartbeat, digestive ailments such as constipation or diarrhoea, or problems with sexual libido or functioning.
Emotional symptoms include irritability, being quick to anger, lashing out, being moody or agitated, being unable to relax, or feeling lonely, isolated, or overwhelmed.
Symptoms of stress also affect how our brains work: we may find ourselves worrying to the point of distraction, ruminating on past or future events, showing unclear or poor judgment, forgetfulness, or whirling thoughts.
Stress can lead to behavioural changes. Some use or abuse alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes; some binge on food while others have no appetite; some sleep more than usual, some experience insomnia. Other symptoms of stress include isolating yourself, procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities, overworking, or engaging in nervous habits such as nail biting, pacing, or even picking at one’s skin or hair.
Though the stressors we experience are undoubtedly real, it is easy to lose a sense of perspective. Our minds tend toward catastrophic thinking (assuming the worst); all or nothing thinking (I have to get everything done; otherwise nothing will get done); perfectionism (if I don’t do everything for my child, I’m a failure as a parent); and so on.
Dealing with stress is often a matter of shifting our minds from these extremes to accepting the grey areas in which we can accept the uncertainties of life, our lack of complete control, the good enough parenting.
These are admittedly difficult habits to break since our environment seems to encourage us to think in extremes. At Angus Munro Psychology our therapists work with many clients struggling with finding a realistic and manageable balance where they don’t have to compromise performance and efficiency for more comfort. We practice a wide range of techniques and different forms of psychotherapies to help you control your chronic stress level, for the purpose of improving your daily life functioning.
These are evidence-based treatments that have proven to be extremely effective in providing relief—for work stress, personal issues, emotional difficulties, and life changes. Our Sydney-based practice is known for its cutting-edge psychological treatments, and our psychologists work with each individual to find a treatment that will address their immediate needs and that will help them make changes in their mental and physical habits.
Many people think that because stress is a part of life, they should be able to deal with it on their own. We believe that stress is a psychological condition that, like depression and anxiety, is complex and multi-faceted. Asking for help from a psychologist or therapist can provide immediate relief, and treatments are long lasting because they give you the skills to deal with challenges large and small. Treatment not only provides relief; it also positively affects your future quality of life and your happiness.
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