Stress and Anxiety
Lots of people talk about ‘being stressed’ or ‘anxious’ – it is common for everyone at some time or other and is a healthy or natural response. Demands on our brain or body cause stress, being frightened or fearful, feeling worried can create feelings of anxiety.
A whole array of behaviours can tell us we are stressed, and if this is sustained over a period of time longer-term health problems can occur. Counselling has been shown to be a helpful option to help with stress and anxiety.
- Obesity and overeating
- Increased or excessive drinking of alcohol
- Loss of appetite
- Increased smoking for smokers
- Increased intake of caffeine
- Excessive and continuing irritability with self and others
- Substance abuse
- Inability to make decisions – even small ones
- Difficulty in concentration is a common symptom
- Increased and suppressed anger
- Not feeling able to cope with life, feeling out of control
- Jump from one task or activity to another without finishing anything
- Feeling more emotional, easily crying
- Lack of interest in things
- Always tired even after sleeping is a very common symptom
- Reduced sex drive
- Nail biting
- Generalised muscle tension