There is no such thing as a life free from stress. It is stress that can motivate us to grow and change. We are constantly dealing with change. There is a cyclical relationship between stress and change; the change itself produces more stress. Too much stress can turn life into a pressure cooker, ready to “blow”. Part of growth and development is to continue to examine our lives, learn what to do and take responsibility to do whatever it takes to continue to heal ourselves.
Dr. Paul Standal helps his clients identify sources of stress while educating and coaching them in strategies for coping with stress.

Stress is a natural part of everyday life, occurring when there is a discrepancy between the demands on you and your ability to successfully respond to those demands. Moderate stress can be a positive motivator by increasing awareness and helping us seek alternate solutions as a response to a psychological or physical demand to a problem. However, if left unchecked, too much stress creates emotional and behavioral symptoms that immobilize you, not allowing you to take action or think through options.

The stress response is both a physiological and psychological phenomenon in which the internal resources of an individual are depleted by a stressor. A “stressor” refers to a demand, situation or circumstance, which disrupts your internal balance and triggers the response. Some stressors are a consequence of current life situations. The Stressful Events Schedule is a good way to assess typical life experiences that may be causing situational stress. Internal chronic stressors appear when a “condition of worth” we hold and a behavior or experience are in conflict. Physical symptoms of stress and body relaxation cannot co-exit. Two of the most effective interventions Dr. Standal recommends and teaches are the use of systematic progressive relaxation and relaxed breathing. Using these tools are important for alleviating stress.