Your Resource Hub for Stress Management
Counselling services, Podcast, Online program
In my early 40’s, I bowed out of a 20 year legal career. My reason to anyone that asked was “to spend more time with the kids”. However it was more than that. I could not contemplate stepping foot into the office one more time. Decades of running on high anxiety and drinking to cope had had its toll on my nervous system and I was burnt out. I didn’t know it at the time, but from there,I started years of recovery, soul searching and ultimately stepping into a new way of living.
I now support men and women facing similar resistance to manage their stress, to change their mindset around work and life balance, to find a workable equilibrium before burnout hits.
Professionals are saturated with wellness tips but often do not have the time to decipher which tips to pursue or put them into action. This is where I come in.
De-Stress for Success Podcast
Stress
Physiological responses to stress are the body’s automatic reactions to perceived threats or challenges. When you encounter a stressful situation, your body activates a complex set of responses that are designed to help you deal with the situation, whether by confronting it (fight) or avoiding it (flight). This response is often referred to as the “fight or flight” response.
Signals are sent to the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers a rapid series of physiological changes, including the release of stress hormones, primarily adrenaline (epinephrine), into the bloodstream. Adrenaline causes the heart rate to increase, which pumps more blood to the muscles and vital organs. This prepares the body for quick physical action.
Alongside adrenaline, the body also releases cortisol, another stress hormone. Cortisol helps maintain the body’s energy supply by increasing glucose in the bloodstream. It also modulates the immune response and has various effects on metabolism.
These reactions are understandable if you are being chased by a tiger!
However your body can react this way in the corporate environment too such as when you have a combative conversation with a client on the phone or you need to go to Court leaving you feel overwhelmed and potentially contributing to health problems over time.
Understanding these responses is key to managing stress effectively and adopting strategies that help balance the body’s stress reactions with relaxation and recovery techniques.
Destress
It is important to close the stress cycle when a stress event occurs.
Deep breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing or the 4-7-8 technique, can help activate the body’s relaxation response and reduce stress. Engaging in physical activity whether it’s a brisk walk, yoga, or any form of physical activity you enjoy, can release endorphins (feel-good hormones) and reduce stress. Mindfulness, meditation, connecting with friends and practicing gratitude help too.
However these can be hard to do consistently on your own if you are time poor and locked into a tight schedule with no room to include new healthier habits.
Engaging with a counsellor or coach to support you can be immensely helpful. I can help you to:
- review your daily habit scoreboard to help you use your time more productively, freeing up time to include regenerative activities to release your stress valve
- reframe negative thoughts so that you are less inclined to ruminate on conversations, and
- say no to people! Setting healthy boundaries is key.
In midlife many professionals stop and reassess their working and personal life. People strive to align their working life with their values. Working out what your values are is the first step!
Equally key is to find “your something larger”, the thing that is bigger than you that you strive towards that sustains you when times are tough and which helps you to thrive when things are going well. If you’ve been working for decades, you may not know what this is yet but discovering this will motivate you to get up, do what you need to do and enjoy your existence a whole lot more.
If stress becomes overwhelming, reach out, book in an introductory call and we can have a chat to discuss your needs and goals.
