Stress is part of everyday life and, to some degree a necessary part of life, giving us motivation and allowing a sense of satisfaction or reward when the stress-giving situation is completed. Many people have stressful jobs which they enjoy immensely – so stress itself is not a bad thing. Suffering stress however, is a different matter entirely.
Signs of Stress:
Have a think about the following Signs of stress and see if they relate to your life:-
- Low Energy: Difficulty falling asleep. Disturbed sleep during the night. Waking too early. Feeling constantly tired. Finding yourself cat-napping often.
- Irritable: Getting irritated or short-tempered with family or friends. Experiencing loss of sense of humour. Rarely feeling amused or entertained by things others seem to enjoy or that you used to appreciate yourself.
- Indecision: Decisions seem inappropriately important and difficult. Events seeming beyond your control. Feeling overwhelmed by situations.
- Distraction: Easily distracted. Concentration and short-term memory letting you down. Tasks left unfinished before rushing to a different one.
- Food: Irregular eating, loss of appetite or eating compulsively even when not hungry.
- Excuses: Finding excuses to refuse invitations or social events (it’s too cold out, too far away, no point, too much to do, etc). Lack of interest in life.
- Unsettled: Experiencing frequent stomach upsets or feeling nauseous for no obvious reason.
We all experience some of the above on occasion, and in themselves they are not something to worry about; but if you find that three or more of them are being experienced regularly or frequently by you then you may well be suffering from stress.
Physical Symptoms
It has long been recognised just how much suffering stress can affect our lives – from headaches and migraine to poor immunity against colds or viruses. Long periods of stress or too much stress can cause flare-ups of skin complaints (psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis or facial spots). It can create physical tension in any part of the body and, of course, a tendency to worry.
Hypnotherapy can be used to instill a lasting feeling of calmness and relaxation, so that you feel more able to deal with things. Events and situations which currently trigger a stress response within you will no longer seem to do so, so that you feel in complete control.
