Stress

Stress is a natural human response that keeps you safe. However, modern life often leads to continuous stress that takes a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. At JMA Services LLC in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Jill Akuna, LMFT, offers therapeutic modalities to help you learn to manage your stress and lead an active, healthy life. Call JMA Services LLC or schedule a consultation online today to benefit from stress management services.

What is stress?

Stress is a natural physiologic response to a perceived threat or danger. Your heart rate increases, your body prepares to direct energy to the parts of your body that need it, and your adrenaline surges. Then, when the danger passes, so does your stress response. 

That’s how stress is supposed to work anyway. Today, more than half of Americans feel stress every day. Not only is continuous stress mentally and emotionally exhausting, but it can also impact your health. 

Burnout is a state of exhaustion caused by prolonged stress due to responsibilities at your job. You may feel emotionally drained and overwhelmed by your duties at work, and unable to keep up with your job demands. 

Another type of burnout is moral injury, which was first applied to military veterans. It occurs when you witness an act that goes against your moral beliefs. Veterans and those in combat may experience feelings of regret, guilt, and shame after witnessing large numbers of tragedies. 

Moral injury in the health care industry, for example, occurs when a patient with a life-threatening injury may need to undergo surgery but cannot afford the expensive procedure, which compromises the doctor’s ability to save their life. 

Unmanaged stress can escalate and contribute to conditions like acute stress disorder and burnout syndrome. Stress can also lead to issues like substance abuse and other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. 

Excessive stress can also take a toll on your physical health. It can affect your immune system and worsen chronic diseases like high blood pressure. 

When should I talk to a doctor about stress?

While everyone feels stress from time to time, it shouldn’t be a constant presence in your life. You should make an appointment with Jill at JMA Services LLC if you have symptoms such as:

• Anxious thoughts or feelings
• Depressed mood
• Memory problems
• Poor judgment
• Reduced decision-making skills
• Social withdrawal
• Increased irritability

You might also have physical symptoms like body pain, digestive problems, nausea, or fatigue. Some patients also change their behaviors and eat more or less than usual, experience sleep disturbances, or turn to tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. 

How is stress treated?

At JMA Services LLC, Jill uses avant-garde therapy modalities in personalized treatment plans to help you learn how to reduce and manage stress. Everyone experiences stress differently, and a stress management method that works for you might not work for someone else. 

Jill often combines different approaches to address various aspects of your stress. She begins with an evaluation of your mental and emotional health as well as your stress levels. Then, she creates a customized treatment plan that could include:

• Psychotherapy
• Meditation 
• Visualization
• Aromatherapy
• Mirror work
• Breath work
• Relaxation therapy

Jill might also recommend lifestyle modifications to your diet and exercise habits. In severe cases, she might prescribe medication.

If stress is interfering with your health and quality of life, call JMA Services LLC or make an appointment online today.