Stress Archives

Younger adults today often face unique stressors compared to previous generations. Factors such as economic uncertainty, student loan debt, job market competitiveness, social media pressure, and the fast pace of modern life can contribute to increased stress levels among young adults.

Reasons why younger adults might be experiencing more stress:

Financial Pressures: Rising living costs, stagnant wages, and student loan debt can create financial stress for younger adults.
Career Uncertainty: The job market is highly competitive, and many young adults face challenges in finding stable employment or pursuing their desired career paths.
Social Media: While social media can be a great way to connect, it also creates pressure to present a perfect image and can lead to feelings of inadequacy or FOMO (fear of missing out).
Education Pressures: The pressure to excel academically, whether in high school, college, or graduate school, can be intense and contribute to stress and anxiety.
Relationships: Building and maintaining relationships, whether romantic or platonic, can be challenging, especially with the added pressures of modern dating culture.
Health Concerns: Young adults may face health concerns such as mental health issues, substance abuse, or chronic illnesses, which can exacerbate stress levels.
Global Issues: Concerns about climate change, political instability, and other global issues can also weigh heavily on the minds of younger adults.

It’s important for younger adults to prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress effectively. Additionally, societal support systems, such as affordable healthcare, mental health resources, and access to education and job opportunities, play a crucial role in helping alleviate stress among younger generations.

Request an appointment to talk with a Therapist:

Trauma and adversity can have profound and long-lasting effects on mental health. The impact can vary depending on factors such as the nature, severity, and duration of the trauma, as well as the individual’s resilience and support systems.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Exposure to traumatic events such as physical or sexual abuse, natural disasters, or combat can lead to PTSD. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma.
Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Trauma can significantly increase the risk of developing depression and various anxiety disorders. Chronic stress from adverse experiences can dysregulate the brain’s stress response systems, leading to persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and fear.
Substance Abuse: Many individuals turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with the distress caused by trauma. Substance abuse can develop as a maladaptive coping mechanism and can exacerbate existing mental health issues.
Attachment Disorders: Early childhood trauma, such as neglect or abuse, can disrupt the formation of secure attachments with caregivers. This can lead to attachment disorders characterized by difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships, trust issues, and emotional dysregulation.
Dissociative Disorders: Severe trauma, particularly in childhood, can lead to dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID) or depersonalization/derealization disorder. These disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, and perception of reality as a way to cope with overwhelming experiences.
Self-Harm and Suicidal Behavior: Trauma survivors may engage in self-destructive behaviors such as self-harm or have thoughts of suicide as a way to cope with emotional pain or feelings of worthlessness.
Chronic Health Conditions: Trauma and chronic stress have been linked to an increased risk of developing physical health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and chronic pain syndromes.
Cognitive Impairments: Trauma can impact cognitive functioning, including memory, attention, and executive functioning. This can manifest as difficulties in concentration, decision-making, and problem-solving.
Emotional Dysregulation: Trauma survivors may experience difficulty regulating their emotions, leading to mood swings, impulsivity, and intense emotional reactions to triggers or stressors.

It’s important to note that while trauma can have profound negative effects on mental health, individuals can also demonstrate resilience and recovery through appropriate support, therapy, and coping strategies. Early intervention and access to trauma-informed care are crucial in addressing the mental health needs of trauma survivors.

If you need help or want to talk to a professional about a trauma or adversity you are experiencing: APPOINTMENTS

Workplace burnout can have a significant impact on productivity. When employees experience burnout, their ability to perform at their best and maintain a high level of productivity is often compromised. Here are some ways in which burnout can affect productivity:

Decreased Energy and Motivation: Burnout can leave individuals feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. This lack of energy and motivation makes it challenging for them to stay focused, engaged, and productive in their work.
Reduced Concentration and Attention: Burnout can impair cognitive function, including concentration and attention span. When individuals are mentally drained, they may struggle to stay focused on tasks, leading to decreased productivity and an increased likelihood of errors.
Decline in Work Quality: As burnout progresses, individuals may experience a decline in the quality of their work. They may rush through tasks, make mistakes, or overlook important details. This decline in work quality can have negative consequences for overall productivity.
Increased Sick Days: Burnout can lead to increased absenteeism, with employees taking more sick leaves or time off work to cope with physical and mental exhaustion. Additionally, even when employees are present, burnout can result in presenteeism, where they are physically present but not fully engaged or productive.
Decreased Efficiency and Effectiveness: Burnout can impair problem-solving abilities, decision-making skills, and creative thinking. Individuals may struggle to generate innovative ideas or find efficient solutions to challenges, leading to decreased efficiency and effectiveness in their work.
Interpersonal Challenges: Burnout can strain relationships with colleagues and superiors. Communication breakdowns, conflicts, and decreased collaboration can arise as a result of emotional exhaustion and detachment. These interpersonal challenges can further hinder productivity and teamwork.
Increased Turnover and Recruitment Costs: Burnout can contribute to higher employee turnover rates as individuals seek to escape the overwhelming work environment. Constantly recruiting and training new employees to replace burnt-out workers can be costly and disrupt workflow, impacting overall productivity.

It is essential for organizations to address workplace burnout proactively to mitigate its negative impact on productivity. Implementing measures to support employee well-being, promoting work-life balance, providing resources and support, fostering a positive work culture, and encouraging open communication can help prevent burnout and improve productivity in the long run.

What you can do as an Employer

As an employer, providing your employees with access to mental health resources is a valuable investment in their well-being and can contribute to a healthier and more productive work environment. These services can include individual counseling sessions, group therapy, or workshops focused on stress reduction, mindfulness, or specific mental health concerns. Be known as the employer who cares.

We partner with small and medium sized Employers to provide online therapy services and wellness programs to their valued employees: bcsnygroup.com/programs/in-the-workplace

While Stress and Anxiety can often coexist and share similar symptoms, understanding their differences can help in recognizing and managing them effectively.

Stress

Stress is a natural reaction to external pressures, demands, or challenges. It is a response to specific events or situations, often referred to as stressors. Stress can be triggered by both positive and negative events, such as work deadlines, relationship issues, financial problems, or major life changes. Some symptoms of stress include:

- Stress is usually temporary and subsides once the stressor is removed or the situation is resolved.
- Stress tends to be triggered by specific circumstances or events in the external environment.
- Stress can manifest as physical symptoms (e.g., tension, headaches, digestive issues) as well as emotional symptoms (e.g., irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating).

Anxiety

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a general feeling of unease, fear, or apprehension that is not always tied to a specific event or stressor. It is often characterized by excessive worry and anticipation of future threats, even when there is no imminent danger. Anxiety can be a normal response to certain situations, such as before a significant exam or a public speaking engagement. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, intense, and interferes with daily functioning, it may be classified as an anxiety disorder. Some symtoms of anxiety include:

- - Anxiety tends to be persistent and generalized, lingering beyond specific stressors or events.
  - Anxiety is often triggered by internal thoughts, perceptions, or interpretations rather than external events alone.
  - Anxiety involves excessive and irrational worry about future uncertainties, often accompanied by a sense of impending doom or danger.
  - Anxiety can lead to physical symptoms (e.g., rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension) as well as emotional symptoms (e.g., excessive fear, irritability, difficulty sleeping).

It’s important to note that stress and anxiety can influence each other. Prolonged or chronic stress can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, and anxiety can exacerbate stress reactions. Both stress and anxiety can have significant impacts on one’s mental and physical well-being, so seeking support from healthcare professionals or employing stress management techniques can be beneficial in managing these experiences.

Talk to a professional: bcsnygroup.com/appointments

Self-care is a crucial part of looking after yourself, as well as those around you.

Practicing self-care can produce positive feelings, which boosts motivation and self-esteem leaving you with increased energy to support yourself as well as your loved ones. Engaging in a self-care routine has been proven to reduce anxiety, stress and depression, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more.

Self-care means something different to each of us, but it doesn’t need to be complicated or overly time consuming. We asked our therapists to share their own self-care routines, maybe some of these might work for you:

Victoria
Cup of Tea at night. Glass of wine with my husband while we watch a fun show. Cooking for fun.

Ana
Cooking and creating joy with food is one of my favorite forms of self care.

Auressa
Winding down in the evenings by taking a shower with lavender & vanilla body wash and lotion, doing bed yoga, drinking “well-rested” tea and doing my night time meditation. I also try to do a bentonite clay mask every week to take a mindful pause and care for my skin.

Dahley
Getting into bed by 10pm. No electronics 1 hour before bed. Drink water. Natural light. Workout 4 days a week.

Ariana
I enjoy being mindful of my phone usage, especially in the morning. I like to stretch & release any stagnant energy or emotions trapped within my body. I love finding new songs & listening to old ones that i enjoyed most. I enjoy meditation & travel. Travel resonates most because i truly believe in working to live, not living to work, especially in the time of working from home which has beautiful perks but can exacerbate feelings of stagnancy.

Heather
I keep a daily bullet journal. It is great for me because it serves two purposes. First, as I am not even a little artistic, my friend creates the monthly outline for me. This means that she and I have a standing monthly date so we know that we are going to spend time together which is wonderful self-care for me. Second, it means that I get daily self-care as I take 5-10 minutes to reflect on my day and record the things I for which I am grateful.

Rachel
I enjoy getting into bed early and reading a book. I also enjoy coloring and painting, watching tv shows and movies, and getting my nails done.

Gabrielle
I often use 4-7-8 breathing. Inhaling for a mental count of 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. This breathing technique really activates the parasympathetic response and helps reset after encountering a stressor or feeling overwhelmed. I will usually do a set of 10-20 breaths. It really works.

Amy
I rely on humor as much as possible– I especially enjoy taking a few minutes to laugh at funny memes about therapy & therapists.

Judy
A Large Latte! Every evening 1-2 Seinfeld episodes. Fill up pitcher of water with blend of nutritive teas including green tea for caffeine, grounded flax seeds, chia seeds, almond milk and cinnamon, drink throughout the day. Go out with friends once a week for fun

Paul
When times are normal, and covid numbers aren’t as high as they currently, I go for bi-weekly manicure appointments and I go with my mother so it’s also quality time with mom. I also enjoy reading and having virtual visits with friends and family, Prayer is also a big part of my daily life.

Azadeh
Walks, knitting 🧶 , meditation 🧘🏻‍♀️, reading 📚

Zoe
Daily exercise, warm tea in the morning, journaling, reaching out to friends, nourishing food, cooking. No screens before bed.

Billie
it is so important for me that I take quiet time and time to move my body. I do at least 20 minutes of yoga, 4 times a week, I have tea before bed every work-night, and I protect my Sundays for rest and laziness, or for whatever I say I want to do.

Gabriella
Salsa dancing classes 1x/week, exercise 3x/week, music during my daily commute, nail salon visit 1x/month.

Cynthia
Daily prayer. Getting out of the house. Stretching. Getting enough sleep. Reading something interesting or enjoyable.

Darlene
Having a mental health day to relax, taking a personal care and self pampering time for yourself. Facial, manicure, pedicure, sauna, these things can be done in the comfort of your own home. Relax with a nice cup of tea or wine and most importantly prayer for our family, loved ones, friends and ourselves.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

We all go through periods of low energy or feeling tired, multiple days of feeling overly tired is not uncommon, but most people can tell when their fatigue feels like something more serious. If that’s the case, or your fatigue gets worse or lasts longer than a week or two, it’s time to get some help.

Psychological causes of tiredness are much more common than physical causes:

Stress
The strains of daily life can feel like they are wearing you out, remember that even positive events, such as moving house or getting married, can cause exhausting stress.

Emotional shock
A bereavement, redundancy or a relationship break-up can make you feel tired and exhausted. Getting professional help to make this grief or shock can help you understand and manage your mental responses.

Depression
If you feel continued sadness and you wake up tired, you may have depression. Sadness is an expected human feeling, but if the sadness extends past 2 to 3 weeks, they it maybe be something more serious. Keep a diary, monitor your feelings. And get help if your sadness persists.

Anxiety
Anxiety can be exhausting! and a perfectly normal human emotion. But if you have regular, excessive feelings of anxiety, you may have Generalised Anxiety Disorder. GAD characterized chronic, exaggerated worry and tension that is more severe than the normal anxiety most people experience. As well as feeling worried and irritable, people with GAD often feel tired.

If you think your tiredness may be a result of one of the above, and you’d like to talk to a professional, contact us now – we will match you with the right therapist for you.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

[A hidden Covid-19 Crisis: Domestic Abuse Rises Worldwide

Social Distancing restrictions aimed to stop the spread of the coronavirus may be making violence in homes more frequent and in some cases, more severe. Children are also especially vulnerable to domestic abuse during this pandemic. Research shows that increased stress levels among parents is often a major predictor of physical abuse and neglect of children and adolescents.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

Nearly 1 in 10 women in the United States have been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime.
1 out of every 3 women have experienced an abusive relationship.
81% of women who experienced rape, stalking, or physical violence by an intimate partner reported significant short- or long-term impacts such as post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and injury.

Below are 10 common indicators:

Stalking: questioning your every move and telling you that they love you and are being protective
Texting or calling you constantly; telling you they are concerned about you and want to make sure your safe
Control of your finances; force you to account in detail what you spend
Criticize you for every little thing you do
Humiliate you in front of your family and friends
Angers easily, particularly if he or she is drinking
Force you to have sex against your will
Hits or punches you
Jealous of friendships or any other outside relationships
Isolation from family and friends

If you can say yes to even one of these you are in an abusive relationship!

Don’t ignore the problem, be prepared and make a safety plan
Often in a calm stage, victims chose to remain in a relationship hopeful that the abuser will change
It is important to have a safety plan in the event the violence erupts again
Call a shelter if you do not have elsewhere to go, find out about legal options or other resources available to you before you have to use them
Prepare an emergency bag, extra cash, checkbook, savings account, identification, medical insurance card and address book
Keep the emergency bag in a safe place where the abuser cannot find it
Know exactly where to go and how to get there; even if the battery should occur in the middle of the night
Leave the situation; take the kids with you
If you are in immediate danger call 911

Focused Articles

Younger Adults are feeling more stressed

The impact of trauma and adversity on mental health

Workplace burnout – What can you do as an Employer

What you can do as an Employer

The difference between Anxiety and Stress

While Stress and Anxiety can often coexist and share similar symptoms, understanding their differences can help in recognizing and managing them effectively.

Stress

Anxiety

Our therapists share their Self-care routines

Self-care is a crucial part of looking after yourself, as well as those around you.

Self-care means something different to each of us, but it doesn’t need to be complicated or overly time consuming. We asked our therapists to share their own self-care routines, maybe some of these might work for you:

why am i always so tired?

Domestic Violence – The Hidden Crime

Nearly 1 in 10 women in the United States have been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime.

1 out of every 3 women have experienced an abusive relationship.

81% of women who experienced rape, stalking, or physical violence by an intimate partner reported significant short- or long-term impacts such as post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and injury.

Below are 10 common indicators:

If you can say yes to even one of these you are in an abusive relationship!

IN AN EMERGENCY

BCS Counseling Group is NOT an emergency or 24 hour service.

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