We can all experience stress at different periods in our lives. Some people experience stress
as a youth, others as a young adult, and some when they are much older. Some of these
people seek support to manage their stress by accessing counselling services. Sometimes
there is no one singular cause of stress, there are many causes, for example:
- Delivering a presentation in front of others
- Preparing for an exam
- Being unemployed
- Starting university
- Paying rent and other bills
Many people cope with stress differently. Some people talk to a family member, some join a
gym and some seek counselling. There are many different means of coping with stress, for
Example:
- Talking to a counselor
- Going for a run or engaging in some physical activity
- Taking a break
- Journalling
- Listening to music

Some people deal with stress by not dealing with it. What I mean is they deny feeling
stressed, or they minimize it and some normalize it. Avoiding stress or ignoring it may
appear to work in the short term but it very often catches up with us in the long run. Many
people are impacted by stress in a variety of ways including:
- Lack of sleep and/or energy
- Physical symptoms for instance a headache or stomach ache
- Irritable and/or easily annoyed with others
- Unmotivated at work or struggling with tasks
- Disengaged and avoiding social situations
Some people continue to work even when stressed and this can sometimes lead to burnout.
For others, this can lead to other health conditions. Some people access counselling when
they are feeling burnout as opposed to when they are feeling stressed.
If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, here are some questions to consider:
It may be work-related or meeting deadlines. If we can
identify our triggers, we can take measures that will help us cope in the moment. We
may not control how many assignments we need to complete but we do control how
we respond and complete these assignments. A counsellor can help with this
process and provide tools.
This could involve going to the gym or practicing
some mindfulness before or after work. If we can implement healthy coping mechanisms, we can feel more in control, and we are less likely to feel overwhelmed.
A counsellor can suggest coping mechanisms and share strategies.
Once we identify our triggers and coping mechanisms, we may also be able to focus on
what else we need that could help us. Sometimes our previous coping mechanism
may no longer work or we are experiencing a new life transition that may require a
new technique or strategy. Some people seek counselling when previous coping
mechanisms are no longer effective.
Many of us will continue to experience stress and the goal is not necessarily to eliminate all stress in life but more so to ensure we can cope when and if faced with stressful situations. If you would like to talk about how stress is impacting you or if you would like tools to help you manage your stress, please get in touch.