Do you frequently have mood swings? Do you often panic, feel nervous, anxious or afraid? Are you struggling to “switch off”? Do you feel you are in a dark place? Are you paralysed by fear? Do you feel your life is over? Do you feel everyone around you is happy, but you’re not?

This might be caused by stress

Stress is a major problem in today’s society and unless effectively managed, it can hinder your activities and ability to lead a happy and fulfilled life. To be free from stress, anxiety or worry, it is necessary to re-train your mind to deal more effectively with the situations causing stress and the emotions arising. Retraining your mind takes time and requires real effort and for some people might seem like an insurmountable task. However, we are here to help. Through stress management techniques, talking therapy and support, we can get you back on track to lead a life where you feel positive and in control.

What is stress?

Stress is a feeling of being under undue pressure, which can come from many areas of your life. Anything can lead to a feeling of stress: work, a change in circumstances, conflict, financial worries, relationship problems. Sometimes there is just one stressor in our lives, and at other times we may feel under pressure in several areas, leading to a feeling that things are building up. This feeling in itself is highly stressful.

People cope with stress in a variety of ways; some people feel threatened, upset, despondent, angry or guilty; some people find that they have a physical response. Many experience a combination of physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms, all of which are hard to manage.

Stress management techniques

Here at Nelumbo Consultancy, we are experts at helping people to develop stress management techniques that allow them to lead a life that is more positive, fulfilled, and in control. When something goes wrong, you should focus on the best aspects of what has occurred. Thinking positively about the things that have happened to you has a beneficial effect on you and your entire state of mind. You become calmer and get better at coping with problems and crises.

This may seem hard to imagine, but all experiences - stressful or not - provide learning opportunities. A little bit of stress can be a good thing, because it keeps us sharp and on our toes; it prevents us from getting too comfortable and can help to challenge us to achieve more.

Can stress be positive?

Remember that stress impacts the adrenal glands to produce hormones which speed up the heart rate, expanding your blood vessels to give you the best possible blood supply to your muscles, so that you can win a race or score a goal. In these situations, stress is an important factor in helping achieve our aims.

However, stress is only a positive factor when it is experienced in short bursts. Sustained periods of stress can lead to physical illness, such as heart disease, and also to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Stress levels vary depending on how we perceive a situation and our expectations and attitudes towards challenges. Each individual has different triggers which cause stress and impacts them to a greater or lesser extent; no two people are the same.

What are the risks associated with long-term stress?

Stress is a normal part of day to day life, and as we have said, can help with performance if it is short-lived. However, sustained stress can lead to serious health problems. Long-term stress is associated with:

• Heart disease
• Digestive problems (e.g. IBS)
• Lower immunity
• Mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety

Sustained stress is also linked to making unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as excess drinking, smoking and drug use.

If you are unable to manage your stress levels alone, it is time to seek professional help. We believe that by uncovering the root cause of your stress, and providing you with appropriate stress management techniques, anyone can overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties.