Stress is a symptom of modern life that afflicts many people at some point, especially relationship or work related stress.

Sometimes the stress is just for a short period triggered by particular circumstances and when those circumstances change the stress subsides, however, sometimes this stress becomes prolonged and lasts beyond the circumstances or the circumstances are not going to change in the short term, for example work related stress or perhaps coping with the illness of a loved one.  This is when you need to step in and learn how to cope with the stress in your life in a different way.

Believe it or not stress is a state of mind created initially by the way you are thinking about a situation, but often your mind gets ‘locked in’ and you become overwhelmed by everything going on in your life not just the immediate circumstances you believed was causing the stress.

Initially the stress may just make you feel overwhelmed, anxious or perhaps irritable, but allowed to continue more serious symptoms can develop which will have a a more serious affect on your life limiting how you are able to function and even leading to long term illnesses and time off work.

Although everyone can differ, typical symptoms of stress can include

• depressed mood and sometimes fearfulness
• anxiety
• irritability
• sleep disturbance
• loss of energy
• Lack of motivation
• weight loss or weight gain
• loss of pleasure or interest in usual activities
• difficulties in thinking or concentrating
• negative thinking or forecasting the future
• Stomach problems such as IBS or constipation and sensitivities to food.

Some of the symptoms can be treated specifically – insomnia, weight loss or gain and lack of concentration are examples.

Often people with stress self medicate with alcohol, drugs or cigarette smoking which then develop into problems themselves.

If stress is having a negative impact on your life it is your responsibility to learn how to do things differently and when you do learn these strategies they will not only change your life for the better for good but give you the tools for improving your quality of life, performance at work and relationships.

With appropriate hypnotherapy, stress is one of the most treatable conditions with long term strategies for how to avoid ever falling into the stress trap again.