I can tell you with certainty that the number one issue impacting my clients is stress. I work with so many people who are in the stranglehold of chronic stress. And when you think about it, that’s not surprising at all. An ABS survey from 2021 revealed that 1 in 5 Australians aged 16-34 experience “very high” levels of stress on a regular basis, and this figure is projected to have increased since that data was collected.

Stress by itself isn’t necessarily a problem. Stress is a normal physical process that helps us to deal with the ordinary threats and challenges of life. Stress can be a positive motivator and protect us from harm – when we experience it in moderation. Stress becomes an issue when we experience it too often, or for prolonged periods of time. Unfortunately, a lot of us are living in a state of chronic stress, and may have been for years. When you factor in the pressures of work, family commitments, social obligations, time pressures, health concerns, financial pressures and anxiety, it’s clear that most of us are being constantly bombarded with threats to be managed. We’re soaking in a soup of chronic stress, and over time it takes a significant toll.

That’s where I come in. I can work with you to explore chronic stress, help you figure out where it’s coming from and find realistic solutions to manage it. And how do I do that? Well, I’m so glad you asked…

Education about stress

In order to work with stress, you first have to understand what it is and how it works. I can teach you about the purpose of stress, how it impacts our bodies and minds and why it’s important to manage it. For a lot of people, simply having that knowledge goes a long way to making stress seem less frightening and more manageable.

The “Life Audit”

The next step is doing what I like to call a “Life Audit”. This is where we take a look at all the different aspects of your life, to figure out where the stress is coming from. Usually, when you’re experiencing chronic stress it’s because there are multiple things in your life that are triggering a stress response. This could be things like a challenging work environment, parenting pressures, relationship conflict or social obligations. There can also be internal causes of stress, for example if you have a perfectionist streak and are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to do things “just right”. We’ll explore together to figure out where your stress is coming from, so that we have a roadmap on what needs to be addressed to manage it.

Managing stressors

Next, we’ll take a look at the areas of your life that are generating stress and find some ways to turn down the pressure. That might simply be talking things through and giving you a chance to vent. It could be problem solving to find ways to reduce the demands on you or find practical ways for you to feel more supported to give you the space to heal.

Addressing pressure-inducing thought patterns

If your stress is stemming from your own thoughts and unhelpful beliefs, we can work together to explore these and reframe them. This bit can be a little sticky, because it often involves addressing patterns that have been around for years, questioning where they came from and beginning to chip away at them so they have less power. It can take time, but really getting into the weeds of where this internal pressure is coming from can be very freeing.

Nervous system regulation

This is probably the most important bit. It’s not enough to simply reduce the things that are causing you stress, we also need to work to help your nervous system feel safe so that it can de-activate and calm you. I do this with a variety of simple, practical techniques that you can work into your daily routine to give you a chance to relax and actually feel calm.

These are the basic steps I take when working with clients who are experiencing chronic stress, but the process looks different for each person. Stress is very individual, so I will tailor this process to your needs and we’ll work at your own pace. I can help you monitor your progress and support you if you experience setbacks or additional challenges. It can take a little while, but together we can find a way to address your chronic stress and help take the pressure off so that you can feel calmer and more present.

If you’re feeling stressed and you’d like support to manage your stress, please reach out to make an appointment. I’d love to help you out with that.