Stress can have a serious impact on our physical and mental health, and it’s not unusual for people to feel overwhelmed and stressed out at times. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are plenty of reasons to consider mental health counseling, and we’ll outline seven of them in this blog post.
The Stages of Stress
Stressful events can cause several psychological changes in the body, including a rise in blood pressure, a decrease in heart rate, and an increase in cortisol. If left untreated, these changes can lead to physical health problems like heart disease or stroke.
If you’re feeling stressed out, it’s important to seek professional help. There are different stages of stress that you may go through and counseling can help you manage each one.
- The Pre-Stress Stage: This is the earliest stage of stress and usually lasts for hours or days. You may feel nervous, tense, or anxious. Your thoughts may be crowded and your mood may be tense or irritable.
- The Stressful Event Stage: This is when the stress response begins to occur and affects your body physically. You might feel increased anxiety, agitation, or distress. Your heart rate might increase and your blood pressure might rise. Cortisol levels will also spike, which can make you more tired and irritable than usual.
- The Coping Stage: After the stressful event has ended, you enter the coping stage. During this phase, you try to deal with the emotions that were aroused by the event by using various strategies (like talking to friends or family members). You might also experience feelings of guilt or shame because you didn’t handle the situation well.
- The Resiliency Stage: After you’ve dealt with the emotions from the stressful event (or tried to), you enter the resiliency stage.
Reasons Why Stress Leads to Mental Health Issues
People often think of mental health counseling as a way to address specific mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. However, counseling can also be helpful when someone is feeling stressed out. There are many reasons why being stressed out can lead to mental health issues, but here are three examples:
- Stress hormones can mess with the brain’s chemistry.
Stress hormones like cortisol can change how the brain processes information. This can lead to problems with concentration, focus, and memory. It can also increase the risk of developing anxiety or depression.
- Ongoing stress can damage your body.
When you’re constantly stressed, your body starts to produce chemicals that damage your cells. This process is called “oxidative stress.” Oxidative stress has been linked to everything from heart disease to cancer.
- Stressed people are more likely to have mental health issues in the first place.
Studies have shown that people who experience a lot of stress tend to have more problems with their mental health than people who experience less stress. That’s because constant stress leads to changes in the way the brain works.
Benefits of Counseling for Stress
There are many benefits of seeking counseling, be it through a therapist or an NHS online stress cbt course. Here are just five of them:
- Counseling can help you manage your stress and anxiety. This is especially important if you have chronic stress or anxiety, as counseling can often help you find new ways to cope and manage your stress.
- Counseling can help you understand your thoughts and feelings more fully. When you’re able to understand why you feel the way that you do, it can give you a better perspective on your situation and help you make more informed decisions.
- Counseling can provide support in times of crisis. If something traumatic has happened in your life, or if things are going really well but you feel like you could use a break, counseling may be the perfect solution for you. Counseling can offer emotional support and guidance as well as practical advice in times of need.
- Counseling can improve your overall mental health. Many people who seek counseling report improvements in their overall mental health, including an increased sense of self-awareness and improved coping mechanisms.
- Finally, counseling is widely available and affordable! There’s no reason not to give it a try if it seems like it would be beneficial for you – just be sure to talk to your doctor first if you’ve been diagnosed with any mental health conditions or if you’re considering undergoing psychiatric treatment in the future.
If you’re interested in seeking counseling, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, talk to your doctor to make sure that it’s the right choice for you. Second, be sure to find a therapist who is experienced and certified in treating mental health conditions. And lastly, be prepared to talk about whatever is going on in your life – counseling is an open and confidential process.
