When and where to Seek Help For Stress

For some of us, stress is a condition that we cannot tackle alone. If you are a mum who has tried to manage your stress alone but without positive results, it may be time to seek help from an outside source. Here are a few suggestions and ideas to help with that decision.

When and where to Seek Help For Stress - D3 San Francisco / CC BY 2.0

Stress can affect our physical body. Too much stress can lead to symptoms like hair loss, headaches, weight loss or weight gain, ulcers, and depressive disorders. Rashes, hives and other unusual symptoms can also occur in extreme cases. All of these symptoms can also be signs of medical conditions other than stress, but if you have been in otherwise good health before they showed up, there is a good chance that stress may be the cause.

Examine your daily life. What are the pressures you face each day? Stress on the job can spill over into family life. The threat of downsizing or loss of a job due to poor performance can cause problems at home to get blown out of proportion. Looking after young children with little or no support can be very stressful.

If the problem is within the family or your marriage, this can in turn affect your performance at work, and your ability to care for your children. Increased emotional sensitivity is a sign that something has hold of your mind and is not letting go. In both situations, the consequences could be devastating and life changing if not dealt with in time.

See a doctor if..
See a medical advice if your physical body has shown signs of stress overload. Be sure to tell your doctor when the symptoms started and their intensity. Start keeping a diary so you can accurately provide your doctor with the correct symptoms. The more information you can provide to your doctor, the better chance of an accurate diagnosis. Holding back anything because of embarrassment is not wise.

Get a full physical exam each year. This will give your doctor a baseline to work from when assessing new problems. Whatever the diagnosis, comply as fully as you can. It’s the difference between getting well or getting worse.

Stress builds up when there is no outlet for the pressure. Mums that have no one to confide in about things going on in their lives could use the help of a professional counsellor. A counsellor will listen as you speak and offer coping suggestions and solutions.

Employee assistance programs
Some employers may offer employee assistance programs (EAP) that allow employees to see counsellors for little or no cost. The human resources officer would have information about that. These programs are confidential.

Seek a counsellor if….
There are clinical psychiatrists and psychologists who can help, whether the problem is related to a mental or chemical breakdown in the brain or situations outside your control. Marriage counselling can help you and your spouse if this is the source of your stress. Group counselling can help moms whose stress has led to unhealthy addictions like smoking, drinking, or overeating.

Exercise that stress away..
If your weight is causing stress, join a fitness centre and sign up with a personal trainer – someone who will hold you accountable. Sometimes just having an appointment to work out will get you to the guy. And, of course, getting regular exercise can be enough to combat your high levels of stress. Either way, it sure can’t hurt!
Yoga is a great way to relieve stress. Find a local yoga class you can attend at least once a week, and you’ll be surprised how many child friendly yoga classes there are.

Getting help is nothing to be ashamed of. Mums are always helping others, but sometimes we are the ones in need. Doing nothing is the worst solution to the problem of stress.