Stress and How to Better Deal with Its Impact on Anxiety and Sleep

At some point in each of our lives, we are faced with something that overwhelms us and fills us with anxiety and depression. It might be a relationship problem, a difficult working environment, something within the family, or financial struggles. Whatever it is, our bodies respond with a response to the stress with sleep problems, racing thoughts, difficulty focusing, sadness and frustration. At first this anxiety can actually help us with energy and focus our attention on the problem. If it continues for any length of time beyond a few weeks, we can grow fatigued and begin feeling that it is more than we want to handle. At this point, depression may set in.

This is when the negative impact of stress can be felt. Often times, it shows itself with sleep problems and increased anxiety. We naturally want to overcome and solve the problem, and so begin to put more time into thinking about it and figuring out a solution. As time passes and we don't resolve the issue, we may find that we are tired, frustrated and more irritable. We snap at other drivers and may yell at family members. This begins to take a toll on those around us.

As time passes and the stress continues, we also begin to see changes in our physiological responses. We may experience headaches, muscle tension, knots in our backs, upset stomach/bowels, nervousness, skin rashes and other problems.

The interesting thing is that it doesn't have to be that way. With effective treatment, stress can be managed and reduced. In fact, it can be turned into something that helps you resolve the problem that started all the difficulties in the first place. During treatment, the initial phase focuses on helping reduce the stress reactions that occur- improving sleep and increasing relaxation coping skills.

The next step is to address the cause of the stress itself. If it can be removed or solved, the issue itself becomes less relevant and a sense of mastery can ensue. Therapy can often help find alternate solutions and resources that were missing before.

The final stage includes work on resolving the reactions to stress overall. This is done to resolve the underlying cause of the stress which is more often caused by the individual's perceptions and beliefs about the stress rather than the stressor itself.