Stress

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What is stress?

Stress is our body’s response to feeling threatened or under pressure. We can feel stressed for all kinds of different reasons: financial pressures, work demands, difficulties in relationships etc.

 

Stress in itself isn’t bad – in the right amounts, it’s healthy and can motivate us to reach our goals. But it comes down to how we manage stress. Without the right coping strategies in place, prolonged periods of stress can damage our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing – and sometimes, lead to burnout.

Common symptoms of stress

  • Memory problems
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Anxious or racing thoughts
  • Constant worry
  • Irritability or short temper
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Moodiness
  • Aches and pains
  • Chest pains
  • Procrastination or neglecting responsibilities
  • Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

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Treatment for stress

Everyone is different in terms of their ability to manage stress. Your initial assessment will help us uncover the current causes of stress in your life and what factors might be exacerbating it. Following the assessment, we will develop a psychological formulation that both explores your responses to stress and helps break the negative cycles that are maintaining it.

Frequently asked questions

You should seek support if you are finding that your stress levels are escalating and beginning to dominate your daily life. You may find that you’re experiencing difficulties sleeping or you’re not finding enjoyment in the things you used to. These are all good reasons to seek support.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Schema Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are all effective treatments if you are experiencing high levels of stress.

Burnout happens when there is an imbalance of what we are giving out to the world and what we are taking for ourselves. If this balance falls out of whack, over time we’ll find that our psychological and physical resources simply burn out.

 

One of the first signs of burnout is exhaustion. Exhaustion causes cognitive problems so you might find that you’re easily losing focus in meetings or that you’re becoming increasingly forgetful. Your anxiety levels will increase so you might find yourself over-thinking or overly preoccupied about work. Changes in mood often mean increased irritation. So you might have a shorter fuse, or find that you’re drinking more or eating more (or less) as a means of coping.

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If you or a loved one is in crisis and needs immediate help, please visit our Crisis Information page.

Marina Hilleary

December 9, 2024 No Comments

Dr Marina Hilleary is a Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS and private practice. She completed her BSc in Psychology at the University of Exeter, graduating with first-class honours and was subsequently awarded an MSc in Mental Health Studies and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London.

Dr Hilleary has 9 years of clinical experience in various NHS mental health settings, her current position being on a Specialist Adolescent Team at a Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). She has a specialist interest in working with children, young people and their families and has worked with young people presenting with a wide range of difficulties including depression, low self-esteem, anxiety (specific phobias, GAD, social anxiety, separation anxiety, panic and OCD), PTSD, behaviours that challenge and additional neurodevelopmental needs.

Dr Hilleary is experienced in carrying out comprehensive psychological assessments (including cognitive assessments) and recognises the importance of working towards a shared understanding of the presenting difficulties to enable a positive therapeutic outcome. She draws on a range of evidence-based psychological therapies and models, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based approaches. In addition, Dr Hilleary utilises systemic family approaches when working with young people and their families.

Dr Hilleary adopts an integrative, compassionate and person-centred approach to engage young people, building their motivation to participate in decisions around their care plan and achieve their therapeutic goals. She works creatively with her clients and, where appropriate, alongside any of their important support systems.