Stress

Stressful situations can claim tremendous power over our lives and we often feel stressed when we are going through major life changes. Exposure to stress can lead to feelings of uncertainty, lack of control and reduced energy levels. When we experience a high state of stress for a long period of time, our mechanism for dealing with the world around us becomes less robust. In order to reduce the risk of long-term mental health impairment, positive action is vital. Stress can also be brought on in times of adjustment when you feel your life has been disrupted. Difficult life changes such as divorce or job loss can negatively impact your mental health and rediscovering and accepting yourself may be challenging. Positive changes can also be stressful and examples of positive adjustments include getting married, moving house, or a new baby. Yes, stress is very common because of the pressures of everyday modern life, especially revolving around work. So many people feel they have to live with it, not understanding the impact stress could have on their general health. There are however many things that be done to reduce stress that will make for a much easier, relatively stress-free life. If stress-busting tips are not helping to alleviate daily strain, speaking with a non-judgemental health care provider can help to improve matters. Having clarity on the source of dissatisfaction, accepting strengths and weaknesses of ourselves and others can help foster a positive attitude which allows you to move forward in life without bitterness or regret.

What you can do to help yourself ?

Major life change is the main contributor of stress for most of us and places the greatest demands on our resources for coping. Getting through the humdrum of the daily grind can also be incredibly stressful as each item on our to-do list demands both time and energy and pursuing one goal to the exclusion of others is not always possible.

The following are some tips to combat stress:

  • engaging in physical activity, even a brisk walk can provide the benefits of aerobic exercise

  • exploring relaxation techniques- yoga, meditation, mindfulness and tai chi are some examples

  • Smartphones can take up a lot of your time, energy and attention, so limit online activity

  • make time for yourself, and surround yourself with people who are positive

  • follow a healthy diet, and limit alcohol and caffeine

  • remember your core values and rethink your life-work balance

  • a good night's sleep is vital for rest and rejuvenation

Symptoms of stress

Stress can affect us on a physical, psychological and emotional level. We all know that stress is inevitable in modern life, the key question is how we cope with life pressures. Here are some symptoms that may indicate that stress is becoming problematic.

  • problems falling and/or staying asleep

  • digestive problems, headaches and/ or aching muscles

  • unable to maintain good habits such as eating well and exercising

  • feeling low, struggling with motivation or feeling on edge

  • Feeling directionless and having difficulty focusing

  • feeling vulnerable, unsettled and overthinking decisions you have made

  • retreating into your comfort zone and avoiding challenging situations

  • lacking confidence and feeling alone with your problems

  • drinking more alcohol than usual

How medication can help with stress

A certain amount of stress can be beneficial as it can lead to positive action, but too much stress can result in anxiety which is often described as fear or apprehension. Fearful feelings stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and often trigger physical symptoms. Anti-anxiety medication (also called anxiolytics) are prescribed to alleviate persistent feelings of nervousness and tension caused by stress. Medication cannot resolve the causes of stress and so the best hope of a long-term solution is when the underlying problems are tackled with therapy and lifestyle changes.

Anxiety

We all have the capacity to experience  anxiety, but when it becomes painful, unbearable or unmanageable  anxiety becomes problematic. This happens when you experience heightened anxiety levels frequently and everyday stresses and strains become magnified  to the point that your everyday functioning is impaired. If  you find yourself frequently plagued by worries and are always fearful of worse case scenarios  you may be suffering from anxiety, depression, or perhaps a combination  of the two. The reality is anxiety affects many individuals and to varying degrees and statistics highlight how incredibly common anxiety is, and these statistics are only the tip of the iceberg because unfortunately so few people actually seek out help. It is therefore essential that we learn to manage daily anxiety and prevent it from developing into something more serious. Anxiety can take many forms, and can be experienced as a result of both internal and external triggers. I have worked with many clients who suffer from anxiety due to numerous  reasons spanning from  work related stress to romantic relationships fears .  I have also helped multiple clients who are  facing  current life challenges or coming to terms with past traumas.  Talking about our feelings of  sadness, fear, or anger to those closest to us can be very difficult especially when we are overtaken by strong emotions, and in these cases working with a mental health professional can be incredibly helpful as with the correct treatment it is possible to feel calmer and take charge of your emotions

Symptoms of anxiety

  • irritability and/or restlessness

  • dizziness 

  • nervousness

  • muscle tension

  • fatigue

  • impaired concentration

  • feelings of dread

  • disrupted sleep

Physical symptoms of anxiety

  • hypervigilance

  • quickening heart rates

  • cramps

  • pounding in the chest

  • difficulty breathing

  • dizziness

  • heart palpitations

  • shaking

  • tightness in the chest

These symptoms when experienced  can cause immense personal distress. There are many reasons that can predispose you to anxiety, ranging from genetics and  neurochemical imbalances to external stressors and traumas.  Unfortunately many people do not seek help and live with profound anxiety over a sustained period of time that significantly affects their  lifestyle and relationships.

People with overwhelming feelings of anxiety may withdraw from social  and work situations, their anxiety working hard to convince them that  they are incapable and inadequate. Relationships can become difficult to  maintain as partners feel pushed out by what they perceive as the  anxious person's rejection and often their chronic lack of  self-confidence. 

There is a cyclical nature to most anxiety disorders and therefore in  many ways it feeds on fear and self-doubt. For many sufferers even  imagining the situational trigger can inspire anxious feelings, let  alone coming into contact with it. 

For these reasons counseling is considered to be a good form of  treatment for anxious feelings as a professional mental health clinician  can equip you with  the tools to build constructive thought patterns. Understanding what frustrations, sadness,  or happiness means to you will boost your confidence to speak your truth, to connect with your authentic self and others and to pursue the goals that resonate with the person you are today.

  Yes, to truly achieve remission of symptoms drug therapy may be  necessary alongside psychotherapy. The goal of drug therapy is complete remission of anxious symptoms as gaining control over  anxiety can greatly increase self-esteem and quality of life. The ideal anxiolytic medication should promote calmness without resulting in daytime drowsiness and sedation and should not lead to physical or psychological dependence.  Before prescribing medication, a thorough history will be taken to firstly rule out any medical illnesses which may cause symptoms of anxiety. Various pharmacological options that are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders will then be discussed at length. This discussion will include class of drug, drug name and doses, frequency of administration, expected outcome of therapy, potential drug interactions, adverse events and the amount of time it will take for the drug to take effect. I believe that medication education is vital to both empower the client and build confidence.

How medication can help with anxiety

Yes, to truly achieve remission of symptoms drug therapy may be necessary alongside psychotherapy. The goal of drug therapy is complete remission of anxious symptoms as gaining control over anxiety can greatly increase self-esteem and quality of life. The ideal anxiolytic medication should promote calmness without resulting in daytime drowsiness and sedation and should not lead to physical or psychological dependence. Before prescribing medication, a thorough history will be taken to firstly rule out any medical illnesses which may cause symptoms of anxiety. Various pharmacological options that are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders will then be discussed at length. This discussion will include class of drug, drug name and doses, frequency of administration, expected outcome of therapy, potential drug interactions, adverse events and the amount of time it will take for the drug to take effect. I believe that medication education is vital to both empower the client and build confidence.

Depression

Sadness is a common, normal human emotion especially to loss. Humans are social animals and when people experience the loss of a loved one through illness or the breakdown of a relationship or marriage they can undergo a profound response to that. In addition, human beings have strong bonds with ideas and objects and even the loss of trust can devastate an individual. When symptoms of depression including low mood or joylessness persist for a 2-week period and these symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in functioning medical intervention becomes necessary. If depression is not treated it can lead to withdrawal, isolation and even complete shutdown but reaching out and connecting with a health care professional can be the first step out of this illness. Even in the most severe cases, depression is a treatable illness.

Symptoms of depression

  • fatigue, loss of energy, feeling apathetic and unmotivated

  • diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all usual activities

  • recurrent death thoughts, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, or suicidal plan

  • feeling lonely, unappreciated and invisible

  • feelings overstretched, unfit and hopeless

  • a change in your communication style: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling

  • irritability and intolerance of others

  • feeling rejected or inadequate

  • excessive and inappropriate guilt

  • feeling emotionally disconnected from people and situations

Physical symptoms of depression

  • living with unexplained chronic pain

  • loss of sex drive

  • change in appetite and/or eating behavior

  • change in sleeping patterns: insomnia or hypersomnia

  • living with unexplained constant headaches

  • living with unexplained stomach upsets


How can medication help with depression?

The ultimate goal of pharmacotherapy for depression is remission and resolution of residual symptoms. and with the emergence of newer and better tolerated antidepressant medication this goal of complete resolution of depressive symptoms and a full return to previous level of functioning is achievable. I have worked with many clients who in spite of their commitment to self-help and talking therapy are still plagued by feelings of sadness and depression. Yes, following a regular routine with a focus on healthy living is a valuable tool to remedy low moods. Regular exercise, a good night sleep and a nutritious diet do help with occasional moods of discouragement or sadness but when depression becomes more severe and is accompanied by poor appetite, loss of sex drive, lethargy and despair medication treatment becomes necessary.