San Diego Psychologist
for Trauma, Stress, and Burnout
In-Person Anxiety & Stress Therapy in San Diego
Online Anxiety & Stress Therapy in
California, Washington, Texas, & Florida
Fear is a normal, healthy emotion. We are naturally afraid of situations that will harm us or the people we care about. In fact, fear is a good thing. It gives us insight about the things we care about and changes in the environment.
Fear also gives us with motivation. The changes in our body associated with fear causes us become more alert and attentive to whats happening around us. Our muscles tense and our body becomes quick to react because we expect something important is going to happen.
Fear also communicates that something is wrong to our loved ones. If they see that we are afraid, then then can help and provide protection from the danger.
In fact, feeling afraid or stressed is often a good sign that we are living our lives fully – confronting new challenges, making mistakes, learning from our mistakes, growing as a person, and taking on new roles and responsibilities.
Although this can be hard, it is also an important part of living our lives to the fullest extent and developing our confidence to try new things and solve real problems. This kind of stress is called eustress (pronounced you-stress, literally meaning good-stress).
Sometimes, stress doesn’t feel like stress is a good thing. We feel overwhelmed with life’s demands. We feel ill-equipped to deal with new situations or don’t believe that things will get better. That kind of stress is called distress.
It may sound strange at first but take a minute to think about it.
Do you remember doing something that made you feel accomplished
Do you remember learning how to ride a bike for the first time?
Do you remember your first behind-the-wheel driving test?
Do you remember your first time interviewing for your a job?
Have you ever asked someone out on a first date?
How did you feel before, during, and after these situations?
Did these situations make you feel capable and motivated to try new challenges?
Or did you feel defeated and scared to keep trying?
Has there ever been a time you were surprised by the outcome?
Maybe you did better than you expected on a test?
What if you didn’t succeed with these examples?
What if you failed a driving test or didn’t do so well on the interview?
What did you tell yourself afterwards?
In-Person Anxiety & Stress Therapies in San Diego
Online Anxiety & Stress Therapy in
California, Washington, Texas, & Florida
The goal is not to put on rose-colored glasses on everything. Somethings things won’t work out.
But at the same time, if we learn how to look at things in different ways, then sometimes we find positive things in places where we didn’t expect or difficult/painful things that need to be acknowledged before we can truly grow as a person.
Anxiety and Stress Therapies in San Diego
Online Anxiety and Stress Therapy in
California, Washington, Texas, & Florida
Ready to Take the First Step?
Sage Psychological Services, PC
Sage Schuitevoerder, PhD
San Diego Psychologist
for Trauma, Stress, and Burnout