This week brings us stress awareness day. According to neuroscience, it is no big secret that prolonged high levels of stress and the stress hormones that come with it, such as cortisol, damage our health, our immune system and our ability to even learn.
According to Louis Cozolino in his work ‘The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy’ ‘The conservation of our primitive stress system, well adapted for a simple life and a small cortex, can leave our modern human brains bathed in chronically high levels of stress hormones.’ [Cozolino,2010, p368].
Therefore, modern life itself and our biology can be at odds, increasing our levels of stress.
The impact of too much stress can have a huge effect on our personal lives, our ability to function and our relationships. However, let’s not despair: there are loads of things we can do to help us manage stress. There are many things that trigger our stress, but there are also many things that can soothe us, or bring us calm, joy or a flow state.
Here are a few things that can help:
· Take an inventory of how you feel in your body. Notice how stress shows up in your body and your breathing. With increased awareness we increase our ability to spot, navigate and soothe stress in ourselves. Movement can help us release it such as gentle exercise. Shake it out, take a walk-in nature. Breathe in deeply, with long outbreaths. It’s amazing how much a simple thing like changing our breathing can help.
· Take time to recharge. Sometimes it’s hard to not have to be caught up in the grind, but taking time for us is essential. Do things that bring you joy, whatever that looks like for you. Cooking, going to a comedy club, hobbies, creativity, whatever recharges your batteries.
· Connect with others. We are social beings, and we need each other to regulate ourselves. Stress can sometimes make us want to withdraw. Whilst downtime is essential, too much isolation is simply not good for what we need.
· Be kind to yourself. Do you berate yourself over the stress you’re experiencing? Can you reframe your self-talk, speaking to yourself as you would a friend and give yourself what you need?
· Talk to a counsellor or psychotherapist. We are here to help and to support you whilst you manage the stress of your life.
I’m currently taking on new referrals so if you would like to get support with stress or with any concerns and struggles you have, please reach out at freyabrysonpsychotherapy@proton.me for a free phone consultation for up to 30 minutes.
I provide both in-person sessions at PEEL, 103 High Street in Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 1HB, Sunco House Central Newcastle and remote online sessions so there’s always something available to you.
Freya Bryson, UKCP registered Integrative Psychotherapist
