Understanding
Stress
Understanding and managing the body's response to life pressures and overwhelming demands
Understanding
Stress
Understanding and managing the body's response to life pressures and overwhelming demands
Understanding
Stress
Understanding and managing the body's response to life pressures and overwhelming demands
What does stress feel like?
Living with chronic stress means experiencing a constant state of physical and mental tension that makes it difficult to relax, focus, or feel in control of your daily life. Whether triggered by work pressures, financial worries, relationship conflicts, or major life changes, stress creates a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to cope effectively with demands. The experience often involves feeling like you're running on empty, with physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue combining with emotional symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions.
The impact extends beyond immediate discomfort, affecting sleep quality, relationships, work performance, and physical health over time. Many people describe feeling like they're constantly firefighting, reactive rather than proactive, with little time for rest or activities they enjoy. This creates a cycle where stress reduces your ability to cope effectively, leading to more stress and a gradual erosion of resilience and wellbeing.
Common Symptoms
Feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks and responsibilities
Physical tension including headaches, muscle aches, or jaw clenching
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep due to racing thoughts
Irritability, mood swings, or feeling easily frustrated
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changes in appetite or eating patterns
Fatigue despite feeling constantly busy or "wired"
Withdrawing from social activities or relationships
What does stress feel like?
Living with chronic stress means experiencing a constant state of physical and mental tension that makes it difficult to relax, focus, or feel in control of your daily life. Whether triggered by work pressures, financial worries, relationship conflicts, or major life changes, stress creates a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to cope effectively with demands. The experience often involves feeling like you're running on empty, with physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue combining with emotional symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions.
The impact extends beyond immediate discomfort, affecting sleep quality, relationships, work performance, and physical health over time. Many people describe feeling like they're constantly firefighting, reactive rather than proactive, with little time for rest or activities they enjoy. This creates a cycle where stress reduces your ability to cope effectively, leading to more stress and a gradual erosion of resilience and wellbeing.
Common Symptoms
Feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks and responsibilities
Physical tension including headaches, muscle aches, or jaw clenching
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep due to racing thoughts
Irritability, mood swings, or feeling easily frustrated
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changes in appetite or eating patterns
Fatigue despite feeling constantly busy or "wired"
Withdrawing from social activities or relationships
What does stress feel like?
Living with chronic stress means experiencing a constant state of physical and mental tension that makes it difficult to relax, focus, or feel in control of your daily life. Whether triggered by work pressures, financial worries, relationship conflicts, or major life changes, stress creates a persistent feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to cope effectively with demands. The experience often involves feeling like you're running on empty, with physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue combining with emotional symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and difficulty making decisions.
The impact extends beyond immediate discomfort, affecting sleep quality, relationships, work performance, and physical health over time. Many people describe feeling like they're constantly firefighting, reactive rather than proactive, with little time for rest or activities they enjoy. This creates a cycle where stress reduces your ability to cope effectively, leading to more stress and a gradual erosion of resilience and wellbeing.
Common Symptoms
Feeling overwhelmed by daily tasks and responsibilities
Physical tension including headaches, muscle aches, or jaw clenching
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep due to racing thoughts
Irritability, mood swings, or feeling easily frustrated
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Changes in appetite or eating patterns
Fatigue despite feeling constantly busy or "wired"
Withdrawing from social activities or relationships
History of Stress
From survival mechanism to modern health concern requiring active management
Early Human
Stress response develops as crucial survival mechanism, with fight-or-flight reactions helping humans respond to immediate physical threats through hormonal and physiological changes
Pre 1900s
Societal changes create new forms of chronic psychological stress, though understanding remains limited and stress-related symptoms often attributed to other causes or moral failings
1930s-50s
Hans Selye's pioneering research establishes stress as medical concept, identifying how prolonged stress affects physical health and coining terms like "general adaptation syndrome"
Present
Modern understanding recognises stress as major public health issue, with extensive research into chronic stress effects on mental and physical health, leading to evidence-based stress management interventions and workplace wellness programmes
History of Stress
From survival mechanism to modern health concern requiring active management
Early Human
Stress response develops as crucial survival mechanism, with fight-or-flight reactions helping humans respond to immediate physical threats through hormonal and physiological changes
Pre 1900s
Societal changes create new forms of chronic psychological stress, though understanding remains limited and stress-related symptoms often attributed to other causes or moral failings
1930s-50s
Hans Selye's pioneering research establishes stress as medical concept, identifying how prolonged stress affects physical health and coining terms like "general adaptation syndrome"
Present
Modern understanding recognises stress as major public health issue, with extensive research into chronic stress effects on mental and physical health, leading to evidence-based stress management interventions and workplace wellness programmes
History of Stress
From survival mechanism to modern health concern requiring active management
Early Human
Stress response develops as crucial survival mechanism, with fight-or-flight reactions helping humans respond to immediate physical threats through hormonal and physiological changes
Pre 1900s
Societal changes create new forms of chronic psychological stress, though understanding remains limited and stress-related symptoms often attributed to other causes or moral failings
1930s-50s
Hans Selye's pioneering research establishes stress as medical concept, identifying how prolonged stress affects physical health and coining terms like "general adaptation syndrome"
Present
Modern understanding recognises stress as major public health issue, with extensive research into chronic stress effects on mental and physical health, leading to evidence-based stress management interventions and workplace wellness programmes
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take our free self-test
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Take a short self-test to see if counselling might make a difference.
Instructions
Answer based on the last 2 weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test screens for stress over the last 2 weeks. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer based on the last 2 weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test screens for stress over the last 2 weeks. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
Instructions
Answer based on the last 2 weeks. Choose the option that fits best. You’ll see your results at the end.
This short self-test screens for stress over the last 2 weeks. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you decide next steps.
How therapy can help
Therapy for stress uses approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation training to help identify stress triggers and develop effective coping strategies. Treatment focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns that amplify stress, developing time management and problem-solving skills, and learning relaxation techniques that activate the body's natural stress recovery systems. Therapists help individuals recognise early warning signs of stress overload and implement preventive strategies before reaching burnout.
Treatment emphasises building resilience, improving work-life balance, and developing a personalised toolkit of stress management techniques that fit individual lifestyles and preferences. Many people experience significant improvements within weeks of learning stress management skills, with long-term benefits including better physical health, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction as stress levels become more manageable.
Benefits of Therapy
Learning to identify personal stress triggers and warning signs
Developing practical coping strategies for managing daily pressures
Improving time management and prioritisation skills
Building resilience and emotional regulation abilities
Learning relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices
Addressing perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
Improving work-life balance and boundary setting
Frequently Asked Questions
Managing stress effectively and building resilience
Is some stress normal, or should I be worried about any stress?
Some stress is normal and can even be helpful for motivation and performance. However, chronic stress that interferes with sleep, relationships, or daily functioning, or stress that feels unmanageable most days, warrants attention. The key is whether stress feels manageable and temporary versus overwhelming and persistent.
What's the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is typically a response to external pressures or demands, whilst anxiety often involves worry about future events that may not occur. Stress usually decreases when the stressful situation resolves, whereas anxiety can persist even when there's no immediate threat. However, chronic stress can contribute to developing anxiety disorders.
Can stress really cause physical health problems?
Yes, chronic stress significantly impacts physical health, contributing to headaches, digestive issues, sleep problems, weakened immune function, and increased risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. Managing stress effectively is crucial for both mental and physical wellbeing.
What if I can't remove the stressful situations from my life?
Whilst we can't always eliminate stressors like work demands or family responsibilities, therapy focuses on changing how you respond to stress. This includes developing better coping strategies, improving problem-solving skills, building resilience, and learning to manage your stress response even when external circumstances remain challenging.
How therapy can help
Therapy for stress uses approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation training to help identify stress triggers and develop effective coping strategies. Treatment focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns that amplify stress, developing time management and problem-solving skills, and learning relaxation techniques that activate the body's natural stress recovery systems. Therapists help individuals recognise early warning signs of stress overload and implement preventive strategies before reaching burnout.
Treatment emphasises building resilience, improving work-life balance, and developing a personalised toolkit of stress management techniques that fit individual lifestyles and preferences. Many people experience significant improvements within weeks of learning stress management skills, with long-term benefits including better physical health, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction as stress levels become more manageable.
Benefits of Therapy
Learning to identify personal stress triggers and warning signs
Developing practical coping strategies for managing daily pressures
Improving time management and prioritisation skills
Building resilience and emotional regulation abilities
Learning relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices
Addressing perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
Improving work-life balance and boundary setting
Frequently Asked Questions
Managing stress effectively and building resilience
Is some stress normal, or should I be worried about any stress?
Some stress is normal and can even be helpful for motivation and performance. However, chronic stress that interferes with sleep, relationships, or daily functioning, or stress that feels unmanageable most days, warrants attention. The key is whether stress feels manageable and temporary versus overwhelming and persistent.
What's the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is typically a response to external pressures or demands, whilst anxiety often involves worry about future events that may not occur. Stress usually decreases when the stressful situation resolves, whereas anxiety can persist even when there's no immediate threat. However, chronic stress can contribute to developing anxiety disorders.
Can stress really cause physical health problems?
Yes, chronic stress significantly impacts physical health, contributing to headaches, digestive issues, sleep problems, weakened immune function, and increased risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. Managing stress effectively is crucial for both mental and physical wellbeing.
What if I can't remove the stressful situations from my life?
Whilst we can't always eliminate stressors like work demands or family responsibilities, therapy focuses on changing how you respond to stress. This includes developing better coping strategies, improving problem-solving skills, building resilience, and learning to manage your stress response even when external circumstances remain challenging.
How therapy can help
Therapy for stress uses approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation training to help identify stress triggers and develop effective coping strategies. Treatment focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns that amplify stress, developing time management and problem-solving skills, and learning relaxation techniques that activate the body's natural stress recovery systems. Therapists help individuals recognise early warning signs of stress overload and implement preventive strategies before reaching burnout.
Treatment emphasises building resilience, improving work-life balance, and developing a personalised toolkit of stress management techniques that fit individual lifestyles and preferences. Many people experience significant improvements within weeks of learning stress management skills, with long-term benefits including better physical health, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction as stress levels become more manageable.
Benefits of Therapy
Learning to identify personal stress triggers and warning signs
Developing practical coping strategies for managing daily pressures
Improving time management and prioritisation skills
Building resilience and emotional regulation abilities
Learning relaxation techniques and mindfulness practices
Addressing perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
Improving work-life balance and boundary setting
Frequently Asked Questions
Managing stress effectively and building resilience
Is some stress normal, or should I be worried about any stress?
Some stress is normal and can even be helpful for motivation and performance. However, chronic stress that interferes with sleep, relationships, or daily functioning, or stress that feels unmanageable most days, warrants attention. The key is whether stress feels manageable and temporary versus overwhelming and persistent.
What's the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is typically a response to external pressures or demands, whilst anxiety often involves worry about future events that may not occur. Stress usually decreases when the stressful situation resolves, whereas anxiety can persist even when there's no immediate threat. However, chronic stress can contribute to developing anxiety disorders.
Can stress really cause physical health problems?
Yes, chronic stress significantly impacts physical health, contributing to headaches, digestive issues, sleep problems, weakened immune function, and increased risk of conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. Managing stress effectively is crucial for both mental and physical wellbeing.
What if I can't remove the stressful situations from my life?
Whilst we can't always eliminate stressors like work demands or family responsibilities, therapy focuses on changing how you respond to stress. This includes developing better coping strategies, improving problem-solving skills, building resilience, and learning to manage your stress response even when external circumstances remain challenging.
Meet our Therapists
Meet our Therapists
Meet our specialists who can help guide your recovery
Jayne Tamsett is a BACP accredited counsellor with a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy and over 4,700 clinical hours. She works with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship challenges. Her practice offers an inclusive and compassionate space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in their personal growth
More
Adults (18+)
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
At Manchester Counselling, we are pleased to introduce Grant Fairlie (MBACP), a counsellor with over 1,900 clinical hours and more than three years of practice. Grant brings a background in drama education and specialist experience supporting neurodiverse adults and adolescents.
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Adults (18+)
Introducing Andrea Szentgyorgyi, a UKCP-registered integrative psychotherapist with over 1,000 clinical hours. Andrea combines person-centred, solution-focused therapy with advanced techniques including hypnotherapy and EMDR, creating a tailored and flexible approach for each client. With 6 years of experience, she provides a safe and supportive space to explore challenges and promote lasting emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
Jayne Tamsett is a BACP accredited counsellor with a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy and over 4,700 clinical hours. She works with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship challenges. Her practice offers an inclusive and compassionate space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in their personal growth
More
Adults (18+)
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)
Jayne Tamsett is a BACP accredited counsellor with a BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy and over 4,700 clinical hours. She works with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship challenges. Her practice offers an inclusive and compassionate space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in their personal growth
More
Adults (18+)
Waqas Maqsood is an integrative counsellor and registered member of the BACP with over 600 clinical hours. Holding an MA in Integrative Counselling and a BSc in Neuroscience, he offers a holistic, flexible approach that supports clients with anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and life transitions.
More
Adults (18+)
Victoria is a compassionate and down-to-earth therapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more than 1,900 clinical hours of experience. A registered member of the BACP, she supports both individuals and couples, offering a warm, collaborative space to explore relationships, self-worth, anxiety, and personal growth in a supportive environment.
More
Adults (18+)
Couples
Matt is an integrative counsellor holding a Diploma in Integrative Counselling with experience delivering more than 500 clinical sessions. He combines counselling, mindfulness, and meditation techniques to support clients with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem issues, and life transitions, helping people build resilience, clarity, and a stronger sense of emotional wellbeing.
More
Adults (18+)