What to Do When Stress is Too Much?

Identifying when stress is too much

We can handle some degree of stress, some more than others, and while we may always feel some level of stress due to obligations and goals in our lives, there can be a point when the stress becomes debilitating. One sign that stress may be too much is when it affects one’s physical health. For example, excessive stress may contribute to high blood pressure. It may also make some people more prone to unhealthy behaviors, such as overeating or substance abuse. Stress from one life area can also make it difficult to be successful in other areas. For example, work stress can result in communication problems within the family, which thus affects that life area; likewise, stress at home can affect a person’s ability to focus at work and interact effectively with coworkers. Everyone experiences a high level of stress on occasion, as deadlines at work, family obligations, relationship conflicts, etc., are a part of life. However, frequent high stress can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.

Identifying priorities

We may at times take on more than we can handle, whether that is because of our own expectations for ourselves or whether that is because of extrinsic motivators, such as income or pressure from someone in our lives. However, since excessive stress can affect our physical and mental health, we need to prioritize our time and focus, making sure that our expectations are realistic.

Setting boundaries

Since excessive stress can result from taking on too much, it can be helpful to be assertive with others when we are asked to do more than we can do without being overwhelmed for an extended period of time. For some people, setting boundaries, which can involve saying “no” to certain tasks or delegating tasks to others, can be difficult, but being assertive can become necessary to reduce stress.

Asking for help

When stress becomes excessive, asking for help from a mental health therapist can be helpful. In therapy, you can also learn and practice coping skills that can help you reduce your stress, and if you do struggle with setting limits and being assertive with others, therapy can address these issues as well.