Stress Management

Stress results from a psychological and biological reaction to a perceived threat and can take the form of an increase in blood pressure, pulse rate, energy level, mental activity and muscle strength. The body is ready for action as it goes into "fight or flight" mode.

Stress is a natural part of life. Without natural low-level stress, you would not be motivated to eat, work, pursue relationships, or even get out of bed in the morning. But when the level of stress builds beyond the point where it is comfortable, most people start suffering from stress-related symptoms. If stress is not dealt with while still at a moderate level, the symptoms may escalate and create other problems such as anxiety or depression.

Everyone reacts to stress in different ways and to different degrees. Some also have more stress than others. Some handle stressful situations better than others. Each person’s stress is triggered by different stressful situations, depending on their personality. What may bother one person may not affect another.

Symptoms of excessive stress

• Body tension

• Inability to relax

• Insomnia

• Poor appetite

• Digestive problems

• Excessive eating, drinking, smoking

• Loss of sex drive

• Overspending

• Aggressive behaviour

• Snapping at people you love

• Agitation over unimportant things

• Always rushed or late for appointments

If you have several of these symptoms, you may well suffer from excessive stress. Stress is one of the greatest threats to health, happiness and well-being. The symptoms are sometimes insidious and undetectable, until one day, the feeling is one of being completely overwhelmed. Everything is an irritant, from work to a favourite pet, leaving you feeling out of control.

Coping with Stress

The first step to overcoming stress-related conditions is to evaluate each separate stressful situation and determine what action is required. While we sometimes have no control over a situation and must learn to simply let go of what is bothering us so that we can redirect our attention elsewhere, at other times we have great control, and need to change our attitude and/or behaviour to effect a positive change.

Since stress affects many areas of our lives, combining coping techniques seems to work better than using one single technique. Some of these coping strategies include deep breathing, relaxation, deep and restful sleep, taking breaks, removing oneself from the stressful situation, exercise, change in diet, journaling, and learning to recognize inner dialogue and thoughts which contribute to stress and then controlling disturbing thoughts and emotions.

Hypnosis and Stress Management

All stress is triggered by an event or episode. Once stress triggers can be recognized, new, alternate behaviour can be introduced. These new behaviours will then prevent the cycle of building triggers which contribute to high levels of stress. Hypnosis not only helps one recognize personal triggers, but while in the hypnotic state clients are better able to see alternate perspectives and behaviours to address stressful situations. While under hypnosis, the mind learns to reprogram unhealthy thoughts and actions to induce new behaviour during the conscious waking state.

By experiencing the deep relaxation of a hypnotic state, the body learns to relax. By feeling better physically, clients’ thinking becomes clearer and they react to stressful situations in a calmer manner.

As one learns to control responses to stress triggers, emotions become more controlled, and a greater sense of peace and serenity develops, no matter what events may arise.

Life is full of change, it is not static. Learning to cope, change and adapt to any situation that may arise is the key to successful stress management.

Contact Tatjana if you have any questions or want to make an appointment.