Millions of people deal with temporary bouts of stress. As a matter of fact, the American Institute of Stress states that 33% of Americans deal with severe cases. Furthermore, 77% of Americans report physical health problems arising from their stress and anxiety.
With these figures in mind, it’s important to understand that stress and anxiety are normal parts of life. At the same time, it’s preferable to find an effective way to manage stress rather than trying to ignore this potentially detrimental burden. That is why it’s essential to find a psychotherapist near to where you live so you can effectively deal with your stress and anxiety.
What Is Anxiety?
You probably recognize anxiety in your life as a feeling of uneasiness. Anxiety can also manifest as an acute feeling of fear that can affect how you function.
While a certain amount of stress and anxiety is normal and even welcome in some cases, you should combat
What Effects Do Stress and Anxiety Have on People’s Lives?
Stress and anxiety can have a significant negative impact on a person’s life, causing problems with sleeping, eating, and concentrating. In severe cases, it can lead to depression and even suicide. Psychotherapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for stress and anxiety, helping people to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Let’s examine some of the effects stress and anxiety can have on you.
Health Issues
Stress and anxiety are more than a damper on your emotions and ability to focus. The anguish you feel can translate to health problems from mild to severe.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Many people suffering from stress and anxiety also suffer from gastrointestinal problems. Stress and anxiety can lead to a number of gastrointestinal issues, including but not limited to:
- Ulcers
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Heartburn
Psychotherapy can help manage stress and anxiety, and in turn, help reduce or eliminate gastrointestinal problems. This, in turn, reduces stress further, causing a positive feedback loop.
Cardiovascular Issues
According to the American Heart Association, stress and anxiety can contribute to cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Reducing stress is one of the common pieces of advice cardiologists give but having a road map to achieving this goal is essential.
Neurological Problems
Stress and anxiety can also lead to neurological problems. These problems can include migraines, insomnia, and memory loss. Stress can cause the body to release chemicals that can lead to migraines.
Compromises Immune System
Other Issues
Apart from health problems that can compound over time, stress and anxiety present issues that spill over into sufferers’ everyday lives.
Puts Stress on Relationships
Humans are social beings. When stress puts pressure on their lives, family, friendly and professional relationships can suffer.
Reduces Quality of Life
Having the capacity to assess potential opportunities and take calculated risks is a part of succeeding in life. For example, starting a new business or gaining the confidence to leave a bad job for better employment is crucial for your personal finances. Furthermore, taking a chance on a relationship, a journey or other opportunity is part of what makes you human.
Stress and anxiety severely limit a person’s ability to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves. This can hinder the sufferer’s quality of life, keeping them trapped in an undesirable situation from which they cannot escape.
Benefits of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a process of self-exploration that allows people to understand and change troubling thought and behavior patterns that cause distress. It is an effective treatment for many mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychotherapy can also help people deal with challenging life transitions, such as divorce, job loss, or chronic illness. Any of these serious issues can be detrimental to your life and leveraging psychotherapy to your advantage can be life-changing.
Help You Uncover the Underlying Cause
The therapist will teach you how to identify the sources of your anxiety. This is an essential step in alleviating your stress since it is difficult to fix a problem without pinpointing the root cause.
Though this may seem simple, sometimes anxiety can stem from sources you cannot immediately identify. For example, it is common for people to attribute their anxiety to their job when in fact the underlying cause may lie elsewhere.
An experienced psychotherapist can help you navigate your emotions and drill down to the real source of your discomfort.
Teach You to Relax
Psychotherapy can also teach you relaxation techniques that can help you better manage your stress and anxiety. Examples of relaxation techniques used in psychotherapy include progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, mindfulness meditation, and even yoga. Each of these techniques can help reduce stress levels and increase feelings of relaxation.
Furthermore, these techniques can become a part of your everyday life to manage stressful situations positively and healthily. Depending on your needs and personality, a therapist can mold your relaxation regimen to your specifications.
Gain Perspective
Through psychotherapy, you can gain perspective and understanding of your troubles and learn to effectively deal with your stress and anxiety. A trained psychotherapist can help you work through your issues and find ways to manage them more effectively.
With this newfound perspective, you can develop techniques that will help you stay in control and make positive decisions when it comes to tackling your stress and anxiety. Additionally, psychotherapy provides the opportunity for you to develop better communication skills, which can help reduce the intensity of your stress and anxiety.
Help You Develop Problem-Solving and Coping Skills
Psychotherapy can help you develop the skills you need to cope with stress and anxiety. The therapist will teach you how to identify the sources of your stress and how to develop problem-solving skills. In addition, you will learn how to manage your thoughts and emotions in a healthy way. The therapist will also help you develop a support system so you can better deal with stress and anxiety.
Getting the Best Help for Your Stress and Anxiety
People that suffer from stress and anxiety often avoid seeking qualified, professional help. They may believe there is a stigma attached to reaching out to a therapist or they may be pessimistic about the outcome.
Anxiety sufferers that take the step to speak with a knowledgeable psychotherapist learn that it can be a life-changing experience. If stress and anxiety are a heavy weight on your shoulders, speak with a psychotherapist near you to see tangible results in your life.
