Stress

We all experience stress: it’s part of being a human being. And stress in and of itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Stress can provide drive, motivate us to make positive changes, and alert us to dangers or discomforts we may need to address. However, many of us experience higher than normal levels of stress, and excess stress can take a serious toll on our mental and physical health. 

Dealing with modern life — jobs, finances, relationships, and politics — can be stressful. Any added adversity, marginalization, loss, or trauma — or any we’re still processing from the past — is a recipe for becoming overstressed.

It’s so important that we don’t let high levels of stress go unaddressed. Good self-care tactics, like exercising regularly, eating well, practicing mindfulness and meditation, and writing out your thoughts and feeling all can help alleviate stress. A trusted therapist, to talk things out with and help come up with stress-reducing strategies tailored to your specific needs, can greatly reduce stress. Sometimes making positive life changes, like leaving a toxic job or relationship, can also dramatically decrease your stress levels.