Home - Susan Rhodes, RN, MS, MFT

                   Do you feel irritated or frustrated?
Lose your temper easily or yell at others for no reason?
                     Are you exhausted all the time?
         Is it hard to concentrate at work or at home?
Do you find yourself worrying about insignificant things?
                   Is your life feeling out of control?

You may be suffering from the effects of chronic stress.

In recent years, health experts have come to a better
understanding of stress and stress management. Stress is
unavoidable in life. It is important to find ways to decrease and
prevent stressful situations. Feeling the effects of stress is a
normal part of life, however your response to these stresses has
an effect on your mind and body.

Stress can be either acute (immediate) or chronic (over time).
Butterflies in your stomach, racing heart, and shallow breathing
are all things that occur when we are feeling anxious or
threatened. Depending on the intensity, how long it lasts, and
how you cope with the situation, your body recovers fairly quickly.
If the situation is life-threatening or traumatic, you may have
effects that last much longer. (Post traumatic Stress Disorder or
PTSD)

Chronic stress is the result of constant exposure to stressful
situations or events. Difficult job, family troubles, or chronic pain
can all wear away at our ability to cope with daily stresses.
Often-times, depression becomes part of the problem as well.

People who are stressed often have neck, shoulder, and low back
pain. This can be caused by constant muscle tension in response
to chronic stress.   Pain is often a mix of biology, psychology, and
stressful or traumatic events. Therapists who specialize in pain
management can help you learn to relax these muscles and
reduce your pain.

Some people seem to stand up to or bounce back from stress
better than others. Some people even seem to thrive on stress.
This is called resilience. A therapist can teach you how to cope
better with stress and become more resilient.

"If you view all of the things that happen to you, both good and
bad, as opportunities, then you operate out of a higher level of
consciousness." Les Brown