Psychological approach to stress adapted to you and your circumstances
What is stress and how does it manifest itself?
We live surrounded by demands, constant changes, and a fast-paced life that often exceeds our ability to adapt. In this context, it's only natural that stress is a part of many people's daily lives.
From a psychological and physiological perspective, stress is a natural response of the body to situations we perceive as challenging. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as "the set of physiological reactions that prepare the body for action." It is, in essence, an activation system that allows us to cope with certain environmental demands. This activation can be useful on a one-off basis, for example, when facing an exam, a job interview, or a difficult conversation.
However, when the level of demand persists over time and is not accompanied by opportunities for rest and recovery, stress can become a risk factor for our well-being. At that point, we are no longer talking about adaptive stress, but rather chronic stress, sustained over time and detrimental to health.
The impact of long-term stress can be observed at different levels:
The experience of stress is subjective and unique to the individual who experiences it, so its sustained impact over time varies from person to person. Within this variability, it can manifest primarily through the body, emotional changes, or behavioral changes. Recognizing these signs isn't always easy, but doing so early is key to preventing further wear and tear and restoring balance.
When to seek professional support
Stress is a part of life, but when it begins to persistently affect well-being, health, or daily functioning, it may be time to seek specialized help.
Signs that may indicate that stress is no longer adaptive:
- Constant difficulty sleeping or resting.
- Recurrent physical ailments without a clear medical cause.
- Feeling of constant tension or being overwhelmed.
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
- Changes in mood or loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable.
In many cases, prolonged stress is associated with other clinical conditions such as:
- Anxiety disorders.
- States of emotional exhaustion.
- Sexual dysfunctions linked to tension and worry.
- Psychosomatic symptoms (physical ailments with psychological origin).
Having professional support can make a difference, especially when stress becomes persistent and difficult to manage on your own. The goal of intervention isn't to eliminate stress completely, but rather to offer useful tools to better understand it, reduce its impact, and regain greater balance in your daily life.
How I work on stress in therapy
Each person experiences stress differently, and therefore, the therapeutic approach I apply is always tailored to individual circumstances and resources. We work together to understand what is causing the discomfort, what maintains it, and how to respond effectively to learn to regulate stress levels.
Treatment, framed within cognitive-behavioral therapy, is based on techniques supported by scientific evidence and may include:
Psychoeducation:
Understand how stress works, what triggers it, and how it affects the body and mind, tailoring this information to the individual's specific situation.
Cognitive restructuring:
Identify automatic thoughts and rigid beliefs that increase stress (such as high self-demand, perfectionism, or the constant need for control) and learn to question and reframe them in a more realistic and balanced way.
Relaxation techniques:
Incorporate practical relaxation tools that help reduce physiological arousal and facilitate self-regulation.
Emotional regulation:
Learn to recognize and understand the emotions that arise in the face of stress (such as fear, irritability, or frustration) and manage them so they don't overwhelm or block you. The goal isn't to suppress what you feel, but rather to develop resources to respond to stressful situations with greater awareness and personal balance.
Problem-solving techniques:
Develop practical skills to deal with demanding situations more effectively and with less wear and tear.
Behavioral activation:
Recover rewarding habits, routines, and activities that promote emotional balance.
Interoceptive exposure:
Gradually address physical sensations that you tend to avoid, such as a racing heart, a feeling of suffocation, or shortness of breath, in order to reduce their impact and improve your tolerance to discomfort.
Addressing stress in therapy doesn't involve quick changes or temporary solutions. It's a progressive process focused on concrete and realistic goals, seeking not only to alleviate current discomfort but also to generate sustainable, long-term changes.
If you feel like stress is starting to weigh you down, taking the step of seeking help can mark the beginning of a real improvement in your well-being. I'm here to support you through this process, with a rigorous, respectful approach tailored to you and your circumstances.