It can cause physiological and emotional problems, but none of us can avoid it entirely. Here are some of the best ways to react when stress hormones start coursing through your body ...
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ost people contend with stress in some element of their lives. What can you do when you are overwhelmed by it and your coping mechanisms no longer seem to work? Here, psychotherapists share their techniques for managing in the moment, seeking help, and minimising everyday stress.
“When we are stressed, our body undergoes physiological changes as part of our fight or flight,” says Hannah Stebbings, an integrative therapist at Priory hospital Barnt Green in Birmingham. “We get increased heart rates, and then the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline get released, and they flood our bodies.” This causes physical symptoms, such as headaches or issues with the digestive system, and then there is the emotional aspect: “You might notice that you’re feeling irritable, anxious, you’ve got low mood, lack of motivation: these are key signs that you are under a lot of stress.” This can mean people withdraw and avoid socialising, “or you might be a bit more snappy with your friends, partner, children, colleagues.”
