Gene Barry Psychotherapist

Stress ©
The term stress was coined by Hans Selye in 1936 and defined as the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change. Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand and can be caused by both good and bad experiences. Both positive and negative experiences and life transitions can lead to stress.
When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger. However, it can be the opposite if the stress is in response to something emotional as there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength.
Firstly, our body will judge the situation and decide if it is stressful. This decision will be influenced by things we have seen and heard and on our stored memories. If the situation is judged as being stressful, our hypothalamus, the part of the brain in charge of stress is activated and a stress response is triggered. It then sends signals to the pituitary gland and the adrenal medulla.
Causes of stress:
A breakup
Beginning or ending school
Being diagnosed with a serious illness
Being discriminated against
Chronic illness or injury
Divorce
Experiencing a loss
Financial problems
Getting married
Having a child
Losing a job
Moving home or office
The death of a loved one
Emotional signs of stress:
Anger
Being more emotional
Difficulty making decisions
Feeling on edge
Frustration
Feeling overwhelmed
Helplessness
Impatience
Irritability
Low energy
Low sense of humour
Resentment
Restlessness
Worry
Physical signs of stress:
Aches, pains
Diarrhoea, constipation
Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
Clenching jaw
Cold or sweaty hands
Dry mouth
Grinding teeth
Going to the bathroom more frequently
Headaches
Increased blood pressure
Insomnia
Frequent colds and infections
Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
Nausea
Tense muscles
Upset stomach
Therapy
Initially the client gets an understanding of what is happening, which in turn will assist them in gaining control of the sources of their stress. Inner conflicts and blind spots are addressed along with unresolved trauma(s) to enable the client to identify the causes of their stress. The client will learn to change their automatic thoughts and behaviours that feed their anxiety. Specifically tailored stress reduction techniques will be introduced in order to reduce the physical, sometimes unknown side effects of their anxiety.