Understanding Stress and Anxiety

Do you ever feel like life is just… too much?

Like everything is moving too fast, and you're struggling to keep up? Maybe you feel overwhelmed, lonely, or stressed—and the worst part is, you're not even sure what to do anymore. You’ve noticed the signs: your heart beats faster for no clear reason, your body feels tired even when you’ve rested, your thoughts won’t slow down, and sometimes, you just feel like crying without knowing why. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing stress or anxiety. And thinking about it can be scary—especially when it feels like you’re the only one going through it. But I want you to know: you’re not alone.So many people feel this way, even if they don’t talk about it. I hear it all the time from people I work with. They say, “I’m exhausted,” or “I can’t stop overthinking.” If you’ve ever felt like that, please remember this: it’s okay to feel this way—and things can get better.

What Is Stress and What Is Anxiety?

Stress happens when something in your life feels hard or too big to handle. Maybe you have too much to do, or something bad happened. Your body gets ready to deal with the problem. You might feel tense, sweaty, or have a headache.

Anxiety is like stress, but it stays around even when nothing bad is happening. It’s the feeling of worry that won’t go away. It might make your stomach hurt, your chest feel tight, or your mind feel like it’s running in circles.

What Stress Feels Like in the Body

Stress doesn’t just stay in your mind—it can show up in your body too. Here are some common signs:

• Tight muscles in your neck, back, or shoulders

• Headaches

• Stomach aches or feeling sick

• Fast heartbeat

• Shaky hands or legs

• Trouble sleeping

• Feeling tired all the time

You might feel like you’re always on edge, or like your body is buzzing with energy even when you're trying to relax. These are all normal ways your body responds to stress. It's trying to protect you—but sometimes, it stays in "alarm mode" for too long.

Why It’s Important to Deal with Stress

Ignoring stress doesn’t make it go away—it often makes it worse. If we don’t take care of stress, it can start to hurt our health. We might get sick more often, have trouble thinking clearly, or feel sad and hopeless. Stress can also make it hard to enjoy the things we love, like spending time with family, doing hobbies, or just feeling happy.

By learning how to manage stress, we give ourselves a better chance to feel calm, focused, and healthy. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our body.

How Therapy Can Help

You don’t have to handle stress and anxiety on your own. Talking to someone like a therapist can really help. I use something called CBT, which stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. That’s just a fancy way of saying we look at your thoughts, feelings, and actions—and find new ways to feel better.

In our sessions, we work together like a team. You learn tools to calm your body, quiet your mind, and feel more in control. Even small changes can make a big difference.

Note: You’re Not Alone

If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's not your fault—and you're not broken. You're human. You deserve support, care, and a safe space to talk.

I’m here to help when you’re ready. Whether we meet in person or online, my goal is to help you feel calm, strong, and understood.