Mrs Nisha Roy

My approach is the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT). It helps you manage problems by helping you recognize how your thoughts can affect your feelings and behaviour. CBT combines a cognitive approach( examining your thoughts) with a behavioural approach( the things you do).

Emotional distress is a state of mental anguish that can take a wide variety of forms.

The term encompasses a wide range of symptoms, but its hallmarks are the symptoms of depression and anxiety. People can experience it at any time, and it is usually temporary.

Mental health disorders can cause symptoms of emotional distress that persist for long periods or occur in cycles.

The symptoms of emotional distress are sometimes severe and may develop into a mental health disorder.

Some symptoms of emotional distress include:

feeling overwhelmed, helpless, or hopeless

feeling guilty without a clear cause

spending a lot of time worrying

having difficulty thinking or remembering

sleeping too much or too little

having changes in appetite

relying more heavily on mood-altering substances, such as alcohol

isolating from people or activities

experiencing unusual anger or irritability

experiencing fatigue

having difficulty keeping up with daily tasks

experiencing new, unexplained pain

Causes of emotional distress

The causes of emotional distress vary widely, and they usually involve a combination of factors.

For some people, distress is due to a traumatic experience or event, such as a death in the family. It can also result from a wide range of underlying mental health conditions.

In other cases, certain situations trigger emotional distress. We give examples of these situations below:

Emotional distress at work

The workplace can be a stressful environment, and while some stress may be motivating, too much is often overwhelming.

Some causes of emotional distress related to work may include:

concerns about job security

concerns about performance

long hours

low pay

poor working conditions

increasing responsibility

a lack of control overwork

relationships with colleagues or managers

Sometimes, circumstances build and combine in unexpected ways to cause distress. A person can experience this in any workplace and at all levels of an organization.

Long working hours may be a particularly potent cause of emotional distress. For example, an older study (Trusted Source from 2011) found that people working more than 55 hours a week were more likely to experience depression and anxiety in the future than those working 35–40 hours per week.

Emotional distress at home

Among the many possible causes of emotional distress at home are personal or environmental factors, such as:

experiencing relationship problems with partners, other family members, or friends

undergoing major life changes, such as moving home or having a child

living in a neighbourhood that faces inequity and deprivation of resources

having a low income

experiencing discrimination

feeling lonely or isolated

having debt

having an unhealthful lifestyle, which might involve smoking or low levels of exercise.

Treatment

Emotional distress can become overwhelming and affect daily functioning. The treatment usually involves identifying the triggers and practising techniques to reduce stress.

The triggers of emotional distress are not always obvious, and talking to family members, friends, and a therapist or counsellor can help people identify them and come up with alternative ways of coping.

For example, cognitive behavioural therapy is a standard method of identifying and addressing sources of emotional distress. There are many types of this therapy, and the best type for each person depends on the situation.

Stress management strategies, including relaxation techniques, such as box breathing and guided imagery, can also help.

Some people use mindfulness meditation as a long-term strategy for dealing with stress. It typically involves focusing inward to heighten attention and self-awareness.