What is Stress and How Do We Treat It?
Defining Stress
According to the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, “Stress is a normal response to situational pressures or demands and is part of everyday life. Stress is the body’s response to a real or perceived threat. However, chronic stress can lead to mental health problems and medical issues, according to CAMH. We know how impactful stress is and the associated stress hormones effects every cell in the body, so managing problematic or chronic stress is important. This article identifies what stress is and how we treat it.
The Evolution of Stress
1000s of years ago, our stress or fight/flight reaction enabled us to worry about our next meal, or where we might find shelter or avoid that saber tooth tiger. However, in our current Western world, most of the threats we face today aren’t something that we can fight or run away from. These threats are usually problems we have to work through.
Stress can be positive. It can motivate us to take action and solve challenges we face. The stress of an impeding deadline might motivate us to reach out to work colleagues for assistance; the stress of an upcoming medical test might motivate us to focus more on some exercise. Stress can also be unhelpful. We can get overwhelmed and unable to deal with or focus on or manage the challenges we are facing. Our body can begin to show symptoms of this stress and affect our thinking processes, our emotional wellbeing and our physical health.
Stress is unavoidable; however there are many strategies to reduce the effect of stress on our emotional wellbeing and physical health. Taking action is the first step. There are many different strategies or ways to treat stress. Its helpful to remember that these strategies also take continued effort at implementing. What we practice grows stronger and managing stress is a practice. Similar to exercise for the body, these strategies exercise your brain!
How Can We Treat Stress?
Taking action is the first step. There are many different strategies or ways to treat stress. Its helpful to remember that these strategies also take continued effort at implementing. What we practice grows stronger and managing stress is a practice. Similar to exercise for the body, these strategies exercise your brain!
Ways to treat stress:
- Identify the problem
- Solve problems as they come up
- Talk about your problems
- Simplify your life
- Learn helpful thinking strategies
- Learn about stress management
- Start on the inside
- Get active
- Do something you enjoy
Check out your Stress index at What’s Your Stress Index? - CMHA National.
If you want support to develop a way to manage or treat the stress in your life, contact Julie at Absolute Health & Wellness.
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About the Author - Julie Watts
Julie Watts is a Registered Social Worker obtaining her Master's in Social Work with Wilfrid Laurier University. Julie is also a graduate of the University of Toronto Foundations in Mindfulness Meditation program and most recently completed the Science of Happiness at Berkeley University. She has completed various yoga training courses.
Julie has over 20 years of experience in the social services sector. Her scope of work has included child welfare, domestic violence, youth and adult justice, community health and anti-poverty work.
As a private practitioner, Julie uses various modalities including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Positive Psychology, Attachment, Trauma-Informed practice and Solution-Focused narrative therapy; Julie uses a person-centred approach to facilitate healing and growth.
Julie has found that almost every person she has supported has wanted to feel better in the their life. Julie is excited to join Absolute Health & Wellness and help YOU move from languishing to flourishing!
To book in please call us at (519) 442-2206 or click here.