Stressed Out!

by Annette Snider, Reach Therapist Intern

STRESSED! This is a common theme for most people today. The art of multitasking and overcommitting pretty much assures us to have a stressful existence. So what do we really know about stress and how it affects us?  Each of us carries stress differently.  Stress can manifest as anxiety, or withdrawal, or even irritation.  Realizing what triggers your stress and how it manifests is the first step in beginning to manage your stress. What stresses you out may not be something that others consider to be stressful.  Understanding that we all handle and experience stress differently is a key point to remember. 

Is there such a thing as good stress? Well, stress is neither good nor bad but rather a matter of how we use it. Stress can be a motivator to get things finished or started! It can also be a survival tool directing us to safety if needed. Whether stress is good or bad typically is determined by the amount of stress you have going on in your life.

Managing stress can seem like an overwhelming task, just another thing to add to my list of “things to do.” Have you ever read an article on How to Reduce Your Stress and felt like the suggestions offered would stress you out even more if you did them? I have. The key to managing stress is to figure out what works best for you. It is important to figure out what are healthy ways for you to manage your stress. 

Stress is sneaky. Just because you may not be manifesting symptoms of stress doesn’t mean you are not stressed. If being highly stressed has become the norm for you, be aware that is it taking its toll on your mind and body. It is slowly wearing you out. Fatigue, forgetfulness, and loss of productivity are just some of the symptoms of long-term stress.  Building up your stress relief options and using them, will help you stock up your reserve for when highly stressful times occur. 

Remember, the key to reducing stress is finding what works for you and then incorporating into your life right now. Even little steps in the direction of stress reduction will give you a great return on you efforts. If you feel overwhelmed and stressed in your life and could use some help in untangling and prioritizing your life, Give Pfeiffer Institute Reach a call today! (919) 941-2900.

FREE Stress Management Workshop

Plus remember that any first session in January is FREE!

FREE Stress Management Workshop 12/5/15

Free Stress Management Workshop 11/14/15

Free Stress Management Workshop - Saturday, October 24, 10:30am-12:30pm

Stress Management Workshop

STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? 
Ready to change with the season?

Join us at Pfeiffer Institute Reach for a FREE workshop!

Relax while you learn tools, tips, and techniques to balance stress through mindfulness practice, guided meditation, & breathing exercises!

Saturday, September 26 from 10:30 AM—12:30 PM

RSVP today! Seating is limited!

This workshop is open to everyone; those who attend will also receive a voucher for one FREE therapy session at Pfeiffer Institute Reach.

Call 919-941-2900 or email pfeiffer.reach@pfeiffer.edu

A Stressful Week

What a week it's been! Our front AC unit went out on Monday - the entire unit had to be replaced, and the supervisor to approve this was on vacation. We were short-staffed in the office so there were changes in schedules and long days. Both printers went out and needed new parts ordered - TWICE! Sometimes it seems like everything that can go wrong - does! And that's just the job-related stuff! Murphy is alive and well, I guess. It's enough to make you wonder how much you can handle, and how sane you'll be by the end!

Luckily, Reach has great resources: Even as I write this, the AC unit is being fixed (3 trucks of ARS techs - thank you!). We have helpful office staff, and interns who step up to cover the front when needed. We were able to order the printer parts online and they arrived the next day.

I can also choose to find the bright side of stressful situations:

• It was a little cooler yesterday and last night, so the front office was bearable in the mornings. The back AC units helped cool the whole suite, so at least the session rooms were comfortable. 
• We were short-staffed for a very positive reason - a baby was born healthy and mom did great. The employee was able to take time off, and will be back on schedule soon.
• Any printing that had to be done immediately was emailed to the campus and taken care of in no time.

Still, all these changes and frustrations - much less the heat! - can make anyone feel stressed and overwhelmed! If you've got a lot going on, particularly if you're having trouble coping or seeing any bright side, please come to our FREE Stress Management Workshop next Saturday, July 25, from 10:30am-12pm. You will learn about important skills (mindfulness, guided meditation), share with others, and receive a voucher for a FREE therapy session at Reach. Reserve your spot today: call 919-941-2900 or email contact@pfeifferreach.org.

Stress Management Workshop - One Day Left to RSVP!

RSVP Today - 919-941-2900 or contact@pfeifferreach.org

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Beat down by the heat?

Join us at Pfeiffer Institute Reach for a FREE workshop!

Relax while you learn tools, tips, and techniques to balance stress through mindfulness practice, guided meditation, & breathing exercises!

Saturday, July 25 from 10:30 AM—12:00 PM

RSVP today! Seating is limited!

This workshop is open to everyone; those who attend will also receive a voucher for one FREE therapy session at Pfeiffer Institute Reach.

Daylight Savings Time and Beating the Winter Blues

by Leah Leynor, Reach Therapist Intern

Spring is almost here! Recently, we all turned our clocks forward by an hour and lost an hour of sleep for Daylight Savings Time (DST). Losing an hour of sleep is most definitely not an enjoyable event, however, DST signals that the gray, dreary, chilly, and snowy winter is just about over! With spring on the horizon, now is a great time to emerge from hibernation and welcome a new season. For some, this may feel like and easy and welcome change and for others, the change in season may feel difficult if not impossible. When someone feels depressed, unmotivated, irritable, and lacking in energy, he / she is feeling the winter blues. Other symptoms could include the following: overeating/weight gain, lack of focus or concentration, withdrawal from social activities, and a decreased desire for sex.

Many individuals will magically beat the winter blues the instant that spring officially arrives, yet for some even spring is not enough to jolt them from the seasonal doldrums. If the winter blues has you down and you are hoping to beat the blues, there are a few ways to do it. First and foremost, get enough sleep! It may be getting lighter outside, but being well rested and keeping a schedule may help alleviate feelings of irritability and grogginess. Second, exercise! It might seem grueling to exercise when you feel a lack of motivation, however, science tells us that exercise releases endorphins and that helps create a better mood. Next, you might consider some spring cleaning. It is possible that feeling organized and reducing the clutter helps improve your mood. Also, try to get back into the social scene. Even though it is tempting to avoid your friends and family, attempting to get yourself back into your favorite social activities may help brighten your outlook. Finally, if it does not feel as though you welcome spring and are still stuck in the winter blues, you may also seek counseling. Counseling may help you work through your symptoms as well as manage the stress that suffering from the winter blues brings.

If you are feeling stuck with the winter blues, we at Pfeiffer Institute Reach are happy to help you work through feelings of depression as well as assist in formulating a beneficial stress management plan to get you back on track! Contact Pfeiffer Institute Reach today at 919-941-2900.  We look forward to working with you!

Spend the Holiday Honoring Your Values

by Laura Bryan, PhD, Clinic Director

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them plenty of stress! It would help to be thoughtful about making the holidays a time you honor your values -- time spent with family -- instead of joining the rush of consumerism and parties.

Easier said than done. That's why Pfeiffer Institute Reach is offering a free workshop to help you focus and consider your options. Join us at the clinic on Wednesday, November 20, from 5:30-6:30. You may be on your way home from work or school, worrying about getting through the evening and getting everything done before tomorrow. If you stop, though, and take this time to plan, you will notice that your holidays will be more what you want, instead of just reacting to what happens.

At the workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn some stress/time management hints, as well as brainstorm about what you want to do for your specific situation. Do you want to focus on honoring your relationship with your partner, expressing gratitude for the gift of being together? Do you want to help your children understand your family traditions, and why they're important to all of you? Maybe you want to be sure you enjoy your "family of choice" -- the friends who get you through the rest of the year.

Whatever your goal, come to Reach on Wednesday, November 20, from 5:30 - 6:30. The hour you spend with us can make a positive difference for your holiday season!

Stress Management

by EJ Hanks, Reach Therapist Intern

Stress is all around us.  It can arise in many forms including dealing with monthly bills, coordinating family duties, handling school responsibilities, professional commitments, and major life events, such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths.  Sometimes you may feel that you are losing control and cannot keep up with the demands of your life.  Stress can make you irritable, angry, and frustrated toward everyone around you.  Feeling anxious and emotional or having difficulty eating and sleeping can also be responses to stress. Without good stress management skills, our health and relationships with others will suffer. While certain stressors are ultimately unavoidable, we can minimize how we react to stress by finding a healthy and manageable balance. 

Managing stress is all about taking charge: of your thoughts, emotions, calendar, and the way you react to problems.  Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life.  While not always obvious, what are the regular stressors in your life and how you deal with them?  Keeping a stress log or journal can help you spot the things that cause you to feel stressed and how you responded to the event.  Once you recognize these stressors, you can begin to take action to lessen their impact on your life.

Successful coping with these stressful events requires rearranging our lives to decrease the demands on us and, more importantly, learning new coping skills to increase the resources available to us.  Some tips on helping decrease your reactions to stressful events:

• Lead a healthy lifestyle – Eat nutritious, well balanced meals; get plenty of sleep; exercise

• Avoid drugs and alcohol – May seem to help cope temporarily, but they cause greater long term and permanent harm

• Increase your social network – Talk to family, friends and others; participate in community or other social activities to make new friends

• Do something you enjoy -  Take up a hobby or try something new and exciting

• Relax – Take a break when you are feeling overwhelmed; try mindfulness, yoga, or get a massage

• Recognize when you need more help – When your methods of stress reduction do not seem to work or you are thinking about suicide, see your doctor or therapist. 

Some stress relievers may work better than others for your individual situation.  If one method does not work, try another one.  Keep a journal or a list of the types of events and the successful type of stress reliever that you used.

If you're looking for extra support and guidance through dealing with stress, another challenging situation, or you're just ready to move in a new direction in your life, Therapist Interns at Pfeiffer Institute Reach look forward to working with you, your partner, or your family to achieve your goals.