心理学家明悦

Dear Lena, thank you for sharing your experience. It is a common and significant challenge when psychological stress manifests as physical distress, as you are describing with headaches, stomach issues, and severe fatigue. Your doctor's assessment that these are stress-related after ruling out physical causes is a crucial first step. The cycle you describe, where worry about deadlines, team management, and company finances intrudes even during rest, is a classic sign of chronic stress. The feeling that your body is giving a warning sign is very important to heed.

To address this, we must consider a multi-faceted approach since meditation and walks alone have not broken the cycle for you. First, it is essential to establish a firm boundary between work and personal time. This means consciously designating time, especially in the evenings and on weekends, where work thoughts are intentionally postponed. Writing down worries in a journal at a set time can help contain them. Second, consider exploring the underlying thoughts driving the anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral techniques can help you examine and challenge the catastrophic thinking patterns, such as the belief that everything will fail if you are not constantly vigilant. A psychologist can guide you through this process.

Third, for the physical symptoms themselves, stress management must include the body directly. While meditation apps may not have worked, structured practices like progressive muscle relaxation or guided deep breathing exercises can be more effective in calming the nervous system. Regular, moderate physical activity, not just walks, but perhaps yoga or swimming, can help release built-up tension. Fourth, evaluate your work environment and responsibilities. Is it possible to delegate tasks, communicate your workload to superiors, or reassess unrealistic deadlines? Often, stress is a signal that the demands exceed your resources.

Finally, building a support system is critical. This could be speaking with a therapist specializing in work-related stress, joining a support group, or confiding in trusted friends or family. The goal is not to eliminate stress entirely, but to develop healthier coping mechanisms and reduce its physical toll. Remember, addressing this is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step for sustainable health and performance. Please consider seeking a consultation with a psychologist to develop a personalized plan.