Many people struggle with stress in silence because they are embarrassed to get help or advice; however, if stress is affecting the way they live their lives or causing them physical or emotional pain they should get help. Long-term stress can contribute to much more serious mental health conditions including extreme anxiety and depression. There are a range of treatments that can be used to help people deal with stress; these are outlined below:
- Counselling: counselling can help people to identify the source of their problems and find more effective ways to deal with them. Counselling offers an outlet for people to chat openly about their troubles with a trained professional and it can also be useful for building confidence and self-esteem.
- Medication: medication can be prescribed if suffering from stress has caused a person to develop depression. Antidepressants raise the level of serotonin in the blood; this helps to lift a person’s mood and give them a more positive outlook. Medication can also be used to treat anxiety; sedatives and antihistamines are often prescribed to relax the brain and help the person to feel calmer.
- Stress management techniques: these techniques are designed to help people deal with the triggers of stress before they cause the person problems. Common techniques include cognitive behavioural therapy, anger management and counselling.