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Manage Stress and Unlock Your Potential with Supportive Therapy
Stress has a domino effect on your mental and physical health.
A 2022 survey released by the American Psychological Association revealed that more than 27% of respondents felt so stressed they couldn’t function properly. The survey emphasized the profound impact of stress, linking it to issues like anxiety, depression, and changes in sleep habits.
Unchecked stress stops you from reaching your full potential. When you feel chronically on edge, it’s harder to focus, make decisions, or enjoy the things you love. Over time, this constant pressure wears you down, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
At Mind Space Wellness, LLC, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and the Upper West Side area of Manhattan in New York City, Caroline Bjorkman, DO, provides supportive therapy to help you manage stress and regain balance. Read on to learn how stress affects your life and how supportive therapy can help.
Hidden ways stress affects your health
Stress doesn’t just affect your mood — it has a wide-reaching impact on your body that you might overlook. The consequences of chronic stress can add up, leading to physical and mental health issues that disrupt your daily life.
Here are some of the surprising ways stress can take a toll on your health:
Memory and concentration
High stress levels impair your ability to focus, remember important details, and make clear decisions.
Weakened immune system
Chronic stress weakens your body’s ability to fight infections, leaving you more vulnerable to colds, the flu, and other illnesses.
Digestive issues
Stress can interfere with your digestive system, causing stomach aches, indigestion, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Muscle tension
Feeling tightness in your shoulders, neck, and back? Stress may be the culprit behind these unexplained aches and pains.
Sleep problems
Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrested, stress disrupts your ability to get quality rest.
Heart health risks
Over time, stress can raise your blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart disease or stroke.
Regain control with supportive therapy to manage stress
Supportive therapy provides practical tools to help you manage stress and regain balance in your life. It’s not just about addressing major issues like anxiety but also about equipping you with strategies to handle life’s everyday pressures.
Therapy offers a safe space to explore what’s troubling you and develop effective coping methods. Here’s how supportive therapy can help you stay calm and in control:
- Breathing exercises
- Boundary setting
- Time management
- Mindfulness and relaxation
- Positive reinforcement
- Cognitive reframing (changing unhelpful thinking patterns)
- Self-care routines
- Role playing
- Positive reinforcement
- Physical exercise
- Healthy eating habits
- Sleep hygiene
- Social support
- Goal setting
Your provider may also recommend other therapeutic techniques to support your treatment plan, including:
Play therapy
This form of therapy allows patients (usually children and teens) to process emotions and manage stress through play. It helps create a safe environment to explore difficult feelings.
Creative arts therapy
By engaging in art, music, or writing, creative arts therapy offers a nonverbal avenue to express emotions, manage stress, and tap into creativity to process complex emotions.
Animal-assisted therapy
Working with animals like therapy dogs can reduce stress, elevate mood, and provide emotional support. This form of therapy can provide comfort that eases anxious thoughts and feelings.
With ongoing practice, supportive therapy significantly affects how you think, feel, and behave. While stress doesn’t vanish instantly, learning these techniques can help you face challenges head-on and maintain your well-being.
You deserve to feel in control of your stress. Call Mind Space Wellness, LLC, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, or the Upper West Side area of Manhattan in New York City, or schedule a consultation online to take the first step toward managing unwanted stress.