Some stress is normal—even helpful. But when stress becomes chronic, it stops motivating you and starts breaking you down. Persistent headaches, sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed are signs your stress response has gone haywire.
Signs You Need Help with Stress
It's worth seeking support if you experience:
Physical Symptoms
- • Frequent headaches or muscle tension
- • Sleep problems (too much or too little)
- • Fatigue that rest doesn't fix
- • Digestive issues
- • Getting sick frequently
Emotional/Behavioral
- • Constant worry or racing thoughts
- • Irritability or short temper
- • Difficulty concentrating
- • Withdrawing from activities you enjoy
- • Turning to substances to cope
How Therapy Helps
Therapy for stress isn't just about relaxation techniques (though those help). A therapist helps you understand your stress patterns, identify what's actually within your control, and develop sustainable strategies for managing demands.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Identifies and changes stress-amplifying thought patterns. Teaches practical skills for managing overwhelming situations. Most researched approach for stress.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
8-week program combining meditation, body awareness, and yoga. Reduces stress reactivity and improves emotional regulation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you accept what you can't control while committing to meaningful action. Builds psychological flexibility.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Short-term approach focused on practical solutions to current stressors rather than deep exploration of causes.
Burnout: When Stress Becomes Exhaustion
Burnout is more than being stressed—it's chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed. Signs include emotional exhaustion (feeling drained), depersonalization (cynicism about work), and reduced accomplishment (feeling ineffective).
Burnout Recovery Takes Time
Burnout doesn't resolve with a vacation. Recovery typically requires systemic changes—whether that's setting boundaries, changing roles, or addressing underlying perfectionism or people-pleasing patterns. Therapy helps identify what needs to change and how to make it sustainable.
Recommended Platforms
Online-Therapy.com
CBT-focused with stress management worksheets and tools built into the platform.
Read review →BetterHelp
Large network means easy matching with stress/burnout specialists. Flexible scheduling.
Read review →Headspace (Therapy)
Combines therapy with the meditation app—good for integrating mindfulness practice.
Read review →Quick Stress Relief vs. Long-Term Management
There's a difference between quick stress relief (deep breathing, taking a walk) and long-term stress management (boundary-setting, lifestyle changes, cognitive restructuring). Therapy helps with both, but focuses on building sustainable patterns rather than just putting out fires.
Quick techniques you'll likely learn: diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises, and cognitive reframing. Deeper work addresses why you're chronically stressed in the first place.
The Bottom Line
Stress management isn't about eliminating stress—it's about building resilience and ensuring stress doesn't control your life. Online therapy provides practical tools and professional support to break the cycle of chronic stress before it damages your health.
Most people develop effective coping strategies within 8-12 sessions, though some continue longer for deeper pattern work. The flexibility of online therapy itself reduces one source of stress—no commute, no rigid office hours.