Causes of Stress
There are as many causes of stress as the people that have them. Everyone has different capacities for handling stress based on their life experiences, personality, internal physiology, and the kind of support network of friends and family they have to cope with stressors. Whereas one person may become stressed upon not receiving a phone call from a friend at an expected time, another may be able to set this aside and not give it another thought. Stressors also change as people age and gain perspective on things in their lives. What was a concern for you at 16 may seem trivial for you at 60, and vice versa.
Some common external causes of stress generally relate to work, school, finances, and a person's general sense of stability. Relationships of any kind can also induce stress, even if they are going well. The social dynamics of our families, workplaces, and circles of friends can be as much of a cause of stress as a solution to it. Many people are also stressed about their health, personal safety, and whatever fears they harbor about the future. The national economy and politics, for example, can induce great amounts of stress for those who care deeply about them. Some also carry a general stress over the possibility of death, either their own or that of a loved one. Of course losing anyone that we love is one of the greatest sources of stress a person can experience.
Conventional Treatment of Stress
For alleviation of common stresses, people are generally encouraged to exercise, get lots of rest, avoid stressful situations, and try to make their lives less hectic. Some doctors additionally teach stretches and relaxation techniques to improve the quality of sleep and reduce the fatigue from stress.
For chronic stress and anxiety, counseling is usually recommended to help people get to the roots of their stress and perhaps understand why they become overstressed in response to certain situations. Behavioral and thinking modifications through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are also helpful. Typically, patients are directed to keep detailed diaries during CBT, noting all the times that they become stressed, recording all their thoughts and worries so that they can discuss the details with their therapist. By dissecting the emotions behind these responses and better understanding them, therapists can help a patient have a more controlled response the next time they come in contact with the stressor.
Therapists may also prescribe anti-anxiety medications or anti-depressants to lower stress.
Patients Medical's Stress Therapies
No matter your level of stress, Patients Medical will work with you to formulate the perfect treatment plan to help you meet your goals. Combating stress is about learning the why behind the stress, which can be as personal and unique to you as your fingerprints. This is why we will help uncover the stressors affecting your life, unravel the reasoning behind your worries, and ultimately begin to cope with them more effectively. If kept to the appropriate levels, stress can actually be a great motivator for helping you achieve your goals. It is always our goal to help you reach personal goals, in health and in life.
Upon your initial visit, we will do a comprehensive medical interview to learn about your life, particularly the aspects of it that may be causing your stress. In addition, we will take a medical history and perform diagnostic tests (blood pressure, blood sugar, etc) if you have been experiencing chronic stress, fatigue, or other symptoms that may cause concern. Once we have a better understanding of all that may be contributing to your stress levels, together, we will come up with a plan to help you tackle the stressors that have been interfering with your life.
Clearly, there is no such thing as a stress-free life. It is never suggested that you avoid stress or talk yourself into the notion that things aren't stressful. Instead, you must confront your stressors head on. If there are certain things that you feel you are overstressing about, through counseling, we can help you begin to look for patterns in your thinking that may give you clues as to why. CBT and mind-body medicine may be recommended to help you revise your thinking about the things that cause you stress, so that the next time you encounter them, you will not have so pronounced a stress response.
Breathing techniques, meditation exercises, and massage therapies can be performed and taught, so that you can use them whenever you feel the stress building in your life. Exercise is also an excellent addition to any relaxation regimens, so yoga or tai chi may also be recommended.
Natural supplements may also nicely complement your stress therapy program. Andreset® is an herbal supplement containing the adaptogenic herbs ginseng, rhodiola, and cordyceps. Each of these herbs has been shown to help buffer the physiological responses to stress while reducing anxiety and fatigue.
Next Steps:
Poor health can significantly affect your life. Improve your life by changing to good health. Call our patient coordinator at 1-212-679-9667 or click on Request an Appointment to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors for evaluation and testing.
We are located at: Patients Medical PC, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 900 (Between 42nd & 43rd Street), Manhattan, NYC, New York, NY 10017.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009