What is stress?
Stress is something we all experience—it’s a natural part of life. Whether it’s the pressure of work deadlines, relationship struggles, or financial worries, stress can creep in from all sorts of places. It manifests in various ways, such as headaches, sleepless nights, anxiety, or simply feeling overwhelmed. A little stress can even be helpful, pushing you to get through tough moments. But when stress lingers or becomes too intense, it can start to affect your mind and body in less helpful ways.
For younger people, the pressure to succeed in school, work, or social situations can ramp up stress levels. However, stress affects everyone—it doesn’t discriminate by age or gender. Research shows that women often experience more work-related stress than men.
The Fight-or-Flight Response
- Natural Defence: Stress triggers the fight-or-flight response, releasing hormones like adrenaline to help you face perceived threats.
- Chronic Stress Impact: When stress is constant, this response can overwork your system, leading to burnout, anxiety, and long-term health issues.
Managing Stress
- Recognise Stress: Acknowledge how stress affects you, both physically and emotionally.
- Find Personal Solutions: What works for one person might not work for another—whether it’s exercise, talking to a friend, or taking a break, find what helps you manage stress best.
- Prioritise Health: Taking steps to manage stress helps protect your mental and physical well-being over time.
46% report that they eat too much or unhealthily due to stress
1 in 3 people are significantly affected by work stress
Family stress affects 48% of people
Minority and LGBTQIA+ individuals often face stress from discrimination, as do those with health conditions
What causes stress?
Stress can stem from a wide range of life events and everyday challenges. Major events like losing someone, starting a new job, or moving can be stressful—even if these changes are positive. However, it’s often the daily pressures of juggling work, finances, and relationships that wear us down over time.
Common Sources of Stress
- Major Life Events: Loss, divorce, illness, or taking on new responsibilities can cause significant stress.
- Daily Pressures: Managing work, bills, and relationships can gradually build up stress.
- Internal Triggers: Constant worrying or negative self-talk can heighten the stress you already feel.
Understanding Stress
- External Stressors: Identify what outside factors trigger your stress—big changes or small, ongoing pressures.
- Internal Responses: Pay attention to how your thoughts and emotions contribute to your stress levels.
Recognising these triggers allows you to take control, helping you reduce their impact and regain balance.
The symptoms and effects of stress
Stress doesn’t just affect your emotions—it impacts your body and mind in noticeable ways. When stress builds up, it can manifest as both physical and emotional symptoms, disrupting your day-to-day life.
Physical Symptoms
- Short-Term Effects: Headaches, shallow breathing, upset stomach, or a racing heart are common reactions to stress.
- Long-Term Risks: Ongoing stress can lead to chronic health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
Emotional and Cognitive Effects
- Emotional Symptoms: Anxiety, sadness, irritability, frustration, or feelings of helplessness.
- Cognitive Impact: Stress can affect concentration, memory, and decision-making, and may lead to feelings of burnout.
Recognising the Signs
- Listen to Your Body: Symptoms like sleepless nights, frequent headaches, or a racing mind are signs it’s time to address your stress.
- Physical Health Consequences: Prolonged stress can worsen existing health conditions or create new issues.
The earlier you recognise these signs, the easier it is to manage stress before it becomes overwhelming.
How can it be managed?
Managing stress starts with recognising the signs and finding strategies that work for you. Different approaches help different people, so it’s about discovering the methods that best support your well-being.
Effective Stress Management Techniques
- Break Tasks Down: When overwhelmed, break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to regain control.
- Reach Out for Support: Talking to someone you trust—a friend, family member, or professional—can provide comfort and new perspectives.
- Practise Self-Care: Make your well-being a priority through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and relaxation.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practices like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help calm your mind during stressful times.
Practical Tips for Everyday Stress
- Create a Routine: Establish a consistent daily routine to reduce unpredictability and create stability.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge your progress, no matter how small—it boosts your resilience and helps you stay positive.
- Step Back When Needed: Give yourself permission to take breaks when burnout looms, and remember to recharge before continuing.
Building resilience is key to managing stress. It involves adapting to challenges and finding ways to recover from difficult experiences. While stress from discrimination or life events can be harder to overcome, resilience can be developed with time, support, and the right coping strategies.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy offers a gentle yet powerful way to manage stress by tapping into your subconscious mind. It helps you reset your perspective on stress, allowing you to approach life’s challenges with calm and confidence.
What to Expect in a Session
- Relaxation: During a session, you’ll be guided into a deeply relaxed state, similar to daydreaming, where your mind becomes more open to positive suggestions.
- Focus on the Future: Hypnotherapy encourages forward-thinking and helps you develop a new outlook on stress, making overwhelming moments feel more manageable.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
- Calm and Control: It helps reduce both emotional anxiety and physical symptoms, like a racing heart or shallow breathing.
- Lasting Change: Along the way, you’ll learn skills to help manage stress long after the sessions have ended, allowing you to live a calmer, more balanced life.
Achieving Lasting Results
- Personalised Approach: Most people start to see a difference after 6 to 10 sessions, though this varies depending on individual needs.
- Beyond Stress Relief: Hypnotherapy not only reduces stress but also improves sleep, mood, and overall well-being.
Hypnotherapy provides tools to handle stress with more ease and confidence, helping you build a more peaceful and balanced life.
Our Stress Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Emma Bancroft
Rainham, Kent
Emma Treby
Mid Devon
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
County Durham
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
