Anxiety – Page 3 – Kassandra Greaves-Ramal

Hello…

…and welcome back to my blog.

Next in the series of reasons why people come to counselling is looking at stress.

We can all experience stress in our daily lives and actually small amounts can help to motivate and inspire us. Think about those nervous butterflies you may have experienced before handing in a piece of coursework, preparing for a first date or riding a really big roller coaster.

Ironically I’ve felt stressed today simply writing about stress!

Those feelings are normal and whilst hard to believe, necessary to push us out of our comfort zones and help us to experience, learn and grow.

However, it is when stress is prolonged it can be damaging both to our physical and mental health.

So, what is stress?

Stress is defined as any uncomfortable emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological and behavioural changes.

It is a psychological perception of pressure on the one hand, and the body’s response to it on the other. This therefore results in a biological reaction to threatening situations which can lead to ‘fight, flight or freeze’.

This can result in people feeling:

Agitated
Overwhelmed
Teary
Anxious
Poor sleep
Digestive problems

There are many reasons why people feel stressed, and this is by no means a comprehensive list:

Work/unemployment
Relationship difficulties
Financial problems
Moving house
Having a baby
Bereavement
Health concerns

And looking at the above list, it is no wonder we experience stress, the pressures and values of modern day life mean it’s a complex, busy and changing world. However, it is when it is overwhelming and seems to dominate everyday life that counselling may help to consider stress management, potential triggers as well as reconnecting back to yourself and others.

Please like, comment, share and follow, and until next time:

be kind | embrace growth | nurture relationships

Kassandra

Hello…

… and welcome back to my blog.

One of the questions I seem to get is ‘why do people come to counselling?’, and the simple answer is, for many reasons!

Sometimes people know exactly what’s bothering them:

Isolation and/or loneliness
Stress
Relationship difficulties
Depression
Anxiety
Bereavement
Expected or unexpected life changes
Self-harm
Suicidal thoughts

But sometimes people aren’t sure what’s ‘wrong’ but just know that something isn’t quite ‘right’:

Loss of control
Feeling overwhelmed with life
Feeling ‘stuck’ but unsure why
Sleep difficulties

They may try and speak with family, friends or loved ones but find there help just isn’t enough, or they feel too embarrassed or ashamed to speak with them at all. This is when counselling can help.

My first experience resulted from an intervention from a friend which led me to the doctors and finally to some counselling. I was one of those people who didn’t know what was wrong, but acknowledged I needed some help outside of friends and family, they were just too close. It was only during my counselling sessions that I realised I had social anxiety, and together, we were able to help me move past that chapter of my life.

Coming to counselling doesn’t have to be seen as a ‘negative’, there are those individuals who simply just want to:

Understand themselves better
Find better ways of relating/communicating
Get the most out of their life

Have you ever considered going to counselling but been concerned that your ‘issue’ isn’t big or worthy enough to talk to someone about?

Well I’m here to say, there is no reason to think or feel like that!

There is great strength in asking for help and that first step can make a huge difference in helping you find resolution.

My hope is that soon there won’t be this stigma surrounding mental health issues – after-all do we judge people for focusing on their physical health?

Seeking help for you mental health shows your emotional intelligence – that you are aware of your own needs and that should not be regarded as a weakness by any means.

The above is literally just a brief snap shot of possible reason’s people come to counselling, it is by no means an extensive list and I’ll be tackling some of these issues in further detail in my coming posts.

Please like, comment, share and follow, and until next time:

be kind | embrace growth | nurture relationships

Kassandra

Tag: Anxiety

Reasons people come to counselling – Stress

Why do people come to counselling?