After all the year-end festivities it is into the new year at full steam, ahead and this can lead to stressful situations with financial matters, pressure in the workplace and the back-to-school routine.
Many think of stress as too much mental or emotional pressure but physiological or physical stress is also important. According to the BBC, stress can affect how we feel, think and behave as well as how our bodies work, because our minds and bodies constantly interact.
Stress causes a surge of hormones in the body so, when the body detects stress, a small region in the base of the brain called the hypothalamus reacts by stimulating the body to produce hormones that include adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones help us deal with any threats or pressure.
The body’s response to stress usually regulates itself. As your hormone levels fall, your heart and blood pressure will return to normal.
Everyone needs a certain amount of stress or pressure to live well. While a lack of stress means the body is under-stimulated, stress that is too intense or prolonged, can increase the risk of a range of physical health problems including headaches, stomach upsets and high blood pressure. It can even increase the risk of having a stroke or heart attack.
More often, stress leads to psychological problems. It can make people feel distrust, anger, anxiety and fear, which in turn can destroy relationships at home and at work. Stress also plays a key role in the development of anxiety disorders and depression.
Long-term stress can play havoc with your immune system, and a recent study suggests it raises the odds of developing viral infections.
However, help is at hand with qualified hypnotherapists from the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) trained to help people suffering from stress and anxiety.
During a visit to the hypnotherapist, he or she can help assess your anxiety and identify the root of stress or anxiety. They can then determine whether it is a situation, a physical issue, a past experience or a relationship.
Once the therapist knows how you wish to feel, they will set you a goal asking how you would like to be, and things that you would chose to do in your life if you were free of anxiety. They will then work with you to reach your goals using a range of different techniques.
After sessions with a hypnotherapist you may feel more confident; more relaxed in situations that have previously challenged you. Many people say that they are calmer and that they have more clarity of thought – able to make decisions more easily.
Remember, long-term stress can play havoc with your immune system, and a recent study suggests it raises the odds of developing viral infections.
So, if you’re susceptible to stress or are showing symptoms of anxiety, contact a therapist near you by using the NCH directory. It could change your life.