What is Stress?

Stress is a reality for so many of us in today’s world. Whether triggered by the overwhelming demands of the workplace, the complexities of relationships, or uncertainty and fear about goings on in the world or our immediate surroundings, we’ve all battled it at one point or another. In fact, about half of Americans say they are dealing with moderate stress. When experienced over prolonged periods of time, stress can be detrimental to our mental and even physical health, causing high blood pressure, loss of sleep, headaches, digestive issues, and eating disorders, and can morph into depression.

At The Midtown Practice, our experienced clinicians can help you identify and cope with stress when it becomes overwhelming and give you tools to work through tough times and reclaim peace of mind and confidence.

Causes of Stress

One theory of how stress builds in each of us – temporarily or over extended periods – is that feelings of uncertainty and lack of control lead to premonitions of bad outcomes. For example, in the workplace, if the long list of tasks and responsibilities we’re given goes uncompleted, it’s quite likely our supervisors will not be happy. That could lead to trouble on the job and an increase in anxiety.

For younger people, school can be a hotbed of headaches: juggling various classes, maintaining acceptable grades by adequately preparing for tests and doing homework, navigating relationships with teachers – all of these areas provide opportunities for stress to grow. If it’s not addressed, a student can lose focus academically and personally.

Financial insecurity breeds stress as well. The pressure to earn enough to support one’s self and family is ever present. Meanwhile the clerical work to keep track of bills, taxes, rent, and other expenses creates its own worries. Not being able to efficiently manage money or earn enough to support a lifestyle – especially in lean times – causes many of us to think about what might happen if we just can’t keep up with our financial needs.

Though they can often be a source of relief and support, personal relationships can also contribute to emotional and mental pressures. When problems arise with neighbors, friends, family members, or romantic partners, we often experience uncertainty and fear, wondering whether the troubles at hand might lead to extended arguments or even a severing of ties with those close to us. Dwelling on the possibility of those types of losses can cause us to experience immense stress.

At The Midtown Practice, we realize that every client experiences stress differently and we work with them to identify the areas of their lives that are causing them the most worry.