When we experience feelings of doubt or get overwhelmed about something that is happening to us, that is stress. As much as it may cause us discomfort, stress is a natural human response. It is our body’s way of reacting to a situation that may be harmful. These situations can be mental, emotional, or physical.
Causes of Stress
The thing about stress is that it is not always triggered by negative events. Positive ones can also bring on anxiety.
Stress can be caused by a long list of situations ranging from changes in a job, relationship, personal responsibilities, moving to a new city, an incredible personal achievement, a death, conflict at work, school, or in your social circle, vacations, financial problems, a new baby, to just about anything you can think of that involves a transition of some kind.
Stress management therapy can help. It uses different strategies, programs, or techniques targeted at decreasing your stress, preventing further stress, or developing coping skills.
Talk Therapy for Stress Management
Three effective types of talk therapy are designed to assist directly with stress management. They are cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and psychodynamic therapy. Here is a closer look at each of those:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
This is probably the most common of the talk therapies used for stress management. It concentrates on the connection between feelings, thoughts or emotions, and behaviours. CBT looks at how changes to one of these factors can influence the others and the outcomes that result.
CBT treatments and programs can help you change how you think, feel, and act in a specific situation in ways that reduce stress through relaxation. CBT has been successful in reducing stress and anxiety levels, increasing confidence, and boosting psychological well-being.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
If you practice mindfulness, you will know that it causes you to focus on the awareness of inner thoughts and feelings, and your surroundings. This is the basis of MBCT. This talk therapy draws on mindfulness practices and combines them with stress management therapy techniques.
This means that yoga, Pilates, body awareness, meditation, relaxation, and other mindfulness techniques are used. It is successful as MBCT can decrease stress, depression, and anxiety. It has also helped with burnout and has improved the quality of life for many who have used this form of therapy.
Psychodynamic Therapy
If you have heard of a stress management therapy that involves exploring your past experiences, beliefs, and emotions, and how they are connected to your current mindset, then you already know what psychodynamic therapy is all about. The main target of this method is to increase your self-awareness and to help you understand how your past may impact your current behaviour.
The success of psychodynamic therapy comes from helping people get a better understanding of how their history is connected to their stress triggers. It also teaches how to manage that influenced stress.
The Opposite Of Stress Is Relaxation
The reason why relaxation is such a big part of stress management therapy is because it sits at the other end of the scale from stress. When you are relaxed, you do not experience stress. When you are stressed, becoming relaxed reduces that stress.
Relaxation doesn’t just happen. Relaxation techniques assist in the process of calming the mind and body. They can also be used to prevent stress and anxiety from developing. Countless techniques are useful in promoting relaxation. They include:
- yoga/Pilates
- prayer
- massage
- meditation
- art therapy
- music therapy
One of the best ways to manage stress is through the use of breathing techniques. There are several types of breathing techniques that benefit individuals who are experiencing stressful situations or are preparing for something that causes them to feel stressed.
Deep breathing is one of the most effective methods. It involves breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. The goal is to pull air into the diaphragm and expand the abdomen while doing so.
Newport Physio and Health For Stress Management Therapy
Are you dealing with stress and anxiety? Newport Physio and Health can help your mental health with stress management therapy. Contact them today to learn more. Your local clinical psychologist in Redcliffe is at Newport Physio and Health.
Conclusion
Stress can be triggered by many different situations and not all of them are bad. Fortunately, there are various types of talk therapies available that can help control the feeling of being overwhelmed and promote well-being. We all need to have strong mental health, regardless of our circumstances, and the tools that come through stress management therapy can be used whenever needed to keep stress and anxiety under control.