Experiencing stress ? - Check out the benefits of a counsellor for stress management

Are you an employee in an office? Do you go through severe bouts of stress? Stress in the workplace easily affects employee engagement and dents productivity as well. Stressed-out employees have low morale and it hampers business growth as well. So, it is very important to avail of Counsellor for Stress management Milton Keynes .

Everyone goes through heightened pressure in the workplace and this can create enough stress. Sometimes harassment or bullying in the office can create stress in an individual. Instances of discrimination are also quite common in the workplace and stress can easily manifest in such situations.

Overwhelming results are experienced if stress in an individual is left unaddressed. The overwhelming stress can take many forms and it can trigger mental, physical and emotional ailments. It is very difficult to manage employees who are experiencing stress and special effort is required to support these individuals. Any kind of stress and related symptoms that are caused by work-related pressure can be treated by choosing the best counsellor for stress management.

Everything to know about stress counselling :

Stress is very common in modern days and most of it can be attributed to various lifestyle factors. People often find out ways to deal with stress and it is very much manageable in some cases. Many individuals refrain from taking professional assistance and try to get it to cure on their own.

However, things can be very different at times and it is very essential to take help from professional therapists. Stress management counselling is done by a professional psychotherapist to cure the issues. Any employee suffering from anger and stress issues can speak about the issues with the best psychotherapist.

In many offices, employers set up employee assistance programs (EAP) to provide support to employees. It is more of a confidential and independent helpline to discuss issues that are bothering them with professional counsellors. An employee feels free to discuss the issues with no worries. Moreover, the employees get a safe space to discuss all issues and the highly trained counsellors offer the best solution.

Stress management counselling ?- Have a look at it :

Stress is very normal and it is a reaction of the body triggered by changes taking place in the environment. Stress is mostly associated with negativity. However, it has some positive attributes as well. An individual stays very alert and avoids all kinds of dangers when they are stressed. Moreover, stress can easily motivate a person and helps them to thrive and survive.

However, stress for prolonged periods can impact the emotional and physical well-being of a person negatively. High levels of stress are often created by heavy work pressure. It is very difficult to perform at your best regularly and achieve all targets. Often, personal circumstances like losing a secure job, the demise of a near or dear one and engaging in an unhealthy relationship activate the stress response. So, it is very important to get in touch with professionals and get relief from stress.

How does stress management counselling benefit ?

Normal activity and proper functioning of the body and mind are often hindered if the stressors are unattended. An individual hardly performs at their best if the stress is paralyzing and overwhelming. Several illnesses and health issues are on the cards if the issue is not addressed.

Stress management counselling comes as a perfect treatment that is aptly designed to manage higher levels of stress. Counsellors identify the stressors to ensure a better understanding of the problem at hand. The stress management counselling process entails the best techniques to reduce stress and get the person back on the path of wellness.

Counsellors do not look to eliminate stress from life but prevent it from happening regularly.

Responses to all kinds of stress |-

Every person responds differently to stress and it primarily rests on the personality, attitude and general approach of an individual towards life.

[A] Factors influencing responses to stress :

(a) The history and life experiences of an individual.

(b) Ways to deal with a problem

(c) The severity of the issue affecting a person

(d) Anxiety, depression and anger in a person

(e) Importance of overall outcome

(f) The support network is very important

[B] Physical response :

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released by the body when a person is stressed. This chemical helps to activate the nervous system.

Sometimes the release of the chemicals can go in their favour and sometimes it can go against them. This chemical can make a person more focused, feel energized or be calm. At times, the release of these chemicals makes a person angry or sad.

Chronic stress can trigger physical ailments and bring about physical changes as well.

Let us have a look at the physical symptoms of stress.

(1) Headaches.

(2) Body fatigue.

(3) Lethargy.

(4) Lack of energy.

(5) Muscle pain and aches, muscle tightness.

(6) Different gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, stomach upset, nausea, and constipation.

(7) Rapid heartbeat.

(8) Chest pain

(9) Breathlessness.

(10) Infections or colds.

(11) Anxiety.

(12) Nervousness.

(13) Difficulty in swallowing food

(14) Dry mouth

(15) Grinding teeth.

(16) Clenched jaw.

[C] Emotional response :

Negative emotion is a symptom of stress response and disruptive and unpleasant negative reactions can trigger emotional symptoms of stress.

Let us scroll through the emotional symptoms of stress.

(1) Anger.

(2) Irritability.

(3) Mood swings.

(4) Feeling restless.

(5) Difficult to relax.

(6) Panic.

(7) Anxiety.

(8) Hopelessness.

(9) Low self-esteem.

(10) Feeling overwhelmed.

(11) Lack enough control.

(12) Avoidance.

(13) Loneliness.

(14) Feeling worthless.

[D] Cognitive response :

Cognitive abilities are often affected by stress. Researchers have found that degeneration of the brain happens due to too much exposure to stress. Stress can easily impair attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility and response inhibition.

Let us check out some of the cognitive responses to stress.

(a) Lack of focus.

(b) Poor judgment.

(c) Constant worrying.

(d) Pessimism.

(e) Racing thoughts.

(f) Forgetfulness.

[E] Behavioural Response :

Stress also has certain behavioural symptoms. Let us highlight some of these behavioural responses.

(I) Bad eating habits.

(II) Bad sleeping habits.

(III) Thinking too much.

(IV) Procrastination.

(V) Various nervous behaviours like fidgeting, nail-biting and pacing.

(VI) Increased use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

Different ways to manage stress :

Stress is difficult to cope with and it can easily turn into various illnesses. However, useful coping strategies with a balanced lifestyle are one of the best ways to manage stress.

Let us have a look at some of the best ways to manage stress.

(A) Regular exercise :

Regular exercising done by the best professionals helps to manage stress. Exercising is a good way to ensure better sleep and improve memory. An individual can boost their overall mood through regular exercise.

Physical activity gets an individual moving and it confers major benefits to a person suffering from stress. However, long-term benefits can only be fetched if exercising is done regularly.

(B) Good eating habits :

People often develop bad eating habits when they are stressed. Eating unhealthy snacks can dent the way they feel. However, changing such eating habits can minimize stress. Avoiding fatty foods and sweets is a good way to improve mental health. Moreover, eating fresh vegetables and fruits also improves mental health. A good night's sleep is also guaranteed by eating well regularly and it is a good way to boost energy and improve concentration.

(C) Enough sleep :

An individual must make it a point to include enough sleep in their routine and this can easily reduce stress. A good amount of sleep every day energizes a person as quality sleep boost mental health.

(D) A good amount of relaxation :

Stress can be easily cured if a person can pack in enough time to relax every day. Deep breathing techniques and meditation make a person feel better than before. An individual must also take time out to spend quality time with other people and feel much better. It is a good idea to get support and feel connected by speaking to people who care.

(E) Speaking about stressors :

An individual feels less stressed if they can talk about the overwhelming stressors. A very good support network can benefit the individual to manage stress. However, it is always a good idea to talk to mental health care professionals.

Stress management at the workplace :

Workplace stress can invariably dent the morale of a person and no amount of self-care tips help. So, to manage stress certain things have to follow in the workplace.

Let us have a look at them.

(a) Improve psychological safety

Collaboration among team members in the workplace often goes for a toss. Lack of trust can also create stress in employees. Improvement of psychological safety helps to reduce stress in the workplace.

(b) Increase break times

Rest breaks are very important in a workplace and the focus lessens after each hour of work. Regular break times help to reduce stress and help employees to perform better.

(c) Promote private workspaces

Every open office is filled with distractions and it can frustrate all the employees. The distractions make it hard to concentrate hard. Private workspaces help to minimize stress and improve the focus of an individual.

(d) Set effective boundaries outside of work

There is a thin line between personal life and work and it is often blurred. It is very much true for those who are working remotely. However, stress can be minimized by setting clear expectations and sticking to them.

(e) Ensure flexibility

Work-life balance is hard to achieve and many individuals find it hard to juggle family life and work. The flexibility of work minimizes stress and one do not suffer from feelings of guilt.

(f) Appropriation of roles

All the staff in an office thrive when they are having a good time and enjoying the job. The support received from top management makes it easier to handle challenges.

(g) Promote autonomy

It is very hard to manage stress in the workplace all the time. An office owner must give autonomy to teams to manage different projects and delegate individual tasks to staff.

How does stress management counselling help ?

Let us briefly summarize how professional counsellors help in managing stress.

(1) Promotes better coping mechanism :

Many individuals try out different ways to cope with stress and manage them effectively. However, a professional counsellor prescribes better ways to deal with stress. Healthy habits like meditation and exercising make it easier to cope with stress. Unhealthy habits that offer temporary relief like smoking, drinking, poor eating habits and gambling must be avoided as per the recommendations provided by a professional counsellor.

(2) Avoid mental health issues :

Psychological issues can easily crop up with a prolonged period of unbearable stress. So, anxiety and panic attacks are quite common for people going through excess stress. Irritability and anger issues are quite common for people suffering from stress.

Qualified counsellors help an individual manage stress and enable them to avoid mental health issues. All such psychological problems are cured by removing stressors.

(3) Guarantees better understanding :

Counselling sessions provided by top counsellors offer a safe space where one can reflect upon and understand the self better. An individual suffering from high levels of stress gets to know more about the problem and responds effectively.

A professional counsellor makes the person more aware of the problem so that they can deal with it in a better fashion. A person is more in control with a positive outlook and there is no amount of panic at all.

(4) Minimize stress levels :

A counsellor can minimize stress by speaking to a person experiencing high levels of stress. An individual gets to verbalize their feelings and thoughts and it can lift an enormous weight from their shoulders. It is a good way to put everything into perspective and minimize stress levels.

Speaking about the problems each day makes an individual feel lighter as they understand that they are not fighting the battle solely. A knowledgeable counsellor can easily help the person and teach important techniques to manage stress.

Schedule an appointment with professional counsellors today :

Are you experiencing high levels of stress? It is time to get in touch with a professional counsellor to get back on the path of wellness and health. Rest assured to be in the pink of health after consulting the counsellor.

Jennifer Ann Surch is also known to have some of the best Life Coach in Milton Keynes. The best life coaches can change the life for better. Make the move now. Get in touch with a professional counsellor whenever you see fit .