Stress is generally described as a feeling of overwhelming pressure and strain and can be caused by events such as work, relationships, financial pressures or chronic illness. It can also be caused due to feelings of uncertainty, unrealistic expectations, major life changes or our perceptions and attitude towards situations. Stress is an everyday event for most of us and can often be helpful. Stress can help motivate us, improve our performance and encourages us to adapt.

When stress is ongoing and experienced for a long amount of time, however, it can start to affect your health and confidence. Prolonged stress can lead to decreased performance, moodiness, sleep disturbance, anger, anxiety and depression. Excessive amounts of stress can also lead to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. While stress can be a helpful feeling and emotion, an overwhelming amount of stress can begin to negatively affect our lives.  

At The Avenue Place, our psychologists can work with you to help understand what is causing your stress and provide tools to help manage this stress in a more productive way; including identifying warning signs and triggers, practicing relaxation and taking care of your health. Psychological therapy can help you gain control over your thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and help you challenge negative thoughts with more positive adaptive ones. By changing the way you think about certain situations, you can also change the way you feel.