Stress can be defined as the brain’s response to any demand or stressor. Stress is commonly perceived as a completely negative phenomenon. However we need a certain level of healthy stress to motivate ourselves and thrive in life. Negative stress can be triggered in a variety of ways. Sometimes through a specific, traumatic or upsetting experience such as an accident or bereavement. Other times it can happen through the build up of many individual and smaller stresses in life. These can suddenly accumulate to produce a much higher level of distress. One of the biggest sources of stress is change. Changes can be positive or negative, as well as real or perceived. It may be recurring, short-term, or long-term. It may include things like commuting to and from work every day, falling ill, the break-up of a relationship, or moving home.
At LifeChange, we can help you to identify and understand the sources of stress in your life. This awareness is a key part of naming and ultimately dealing with stressful feelings and events. Often this awareness is connected to a greater insight into how you live, and how you handle the problems of everyday life. Ultimately the goal is to provide you with the tools to notice and then cope with stress. In becoming more aware of these patterns of behaviour, you can begin to become more stress resilient.