What we treat

Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Stress increases hormones in your body to help you deal with pressures or threats.

A small amount of stress can be useful. It can motivate you to take action. However, if you're constantly under stress, stress hormones will stay in your body. This will lead to symptoms of stress.

Most people under stress who receive therapy finish feeling better and more able to manage their symptoms.

Link to mental health

Stress isn't a mental health condition, but it's closely linked to our wellbeing.

Prolonged periods of intense stress can develop into a mental health condition such as depression. On the other hand, trying to cope with the symptoms of a mental health condition can be more difficult when under stress.

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of stress may include:

• Feeling overwhelmed or over-burdened

• Unable focus or concentrate

• Low in mood

• Irritable and “on edge”

• A sense of dread

• Racing thoughts, struggling to “switch off”

• Problems getting to sleep or staying asleep

• Feeling tired all the time

• Dizziness

• Muscle tension or pain

• Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw

• Finding it hard to make decisions

• Eating too much or too little

• Smoking or drinking alcohol more than usual

These symptoms may cause difficulties in day-to-day activities such as work, studying, social activities or relationships with others.

Causes

Many of life’s demands can cause stress, particularly work, relationships and money problems. Not all stress stems from things that happen to us. Sometimes our stress response is self-induced. There might be one big thing causing you stress, but stress can also be caused by a build-up of small pressures.

Other struggles

Read more about the other difficulties we treat:

Depression

Worrying lots about different things

Illness anxiety

Flashbacks or nightmares of a trauma

Obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours

Social anxiety

Specific phobias

Panic attacks

Perceived flaws in appearance

Loss or bereavement

Expressing anger

Problems in relationships

Talking therapy

If you’re struggling with stress, read about the talking therapies we offer to see how they could help you. You may also like to read some feedback and encouragements by those who received therapy with us.

Self-help resources

Be sure to check out our useful section of self-help resources for wellbeing.

Employment advice

Alongside therapy our Employment Team can help you find employment or training, and support you with workplace adjustments or disputes.