All of us at one time or another have experienced pressure. Whether it be from work pressure, pressure in relationships, academic pressure, financial pressure, social pressure, family pressure or pressure that stems from health and medical concerns—it can eat at our confidence and self-worth. Pressures placed on us can make us feel as if we aren’t measuring up to our own expectations or those placed by others.
Excessive worry and uncertainty about how to achieve a desired outcome is stressful. It can feel like we are carrying a backpack that’s so heavy that our body is bracing to haphazardly try to accommodate the weight. Unable to clearly look at the path ahead, the weight is all consuming both physically, and emotionally. When will the load ease up? Will anyone be able to help and see the weight we are bearing. Will we be able to ask for help? Or will we try to continue on as if everything is alright?
Have you ever acknowledged or reflected on the ways in which pressure has impacted your life? Consider some of the ways that you may have experienced pressure.
Pressure can look like young children being told to eat certain foods or face the consequences.
Pressure can be anxiety before, during, and after taking an academic test.
Pressure can come from peers who want us to participate in something that goes against rules and/or your comfort level.
Pressure can come from a partner and/or peers to engage in sexual intimacy.
Pressure can be placed upon athletes from a community to perform and win.
Pressure can be experienced at work with expectations to perform, meet deadlines, gain clients, maintain clients, satisfy goals, etc.
Pressure can surface in relationships when partners have differing views on when or if they want to start a family.
Pressure can come from family members with differing views about medical and care related decisions for an elderly adult.
Psychological pressure can certainly present at any age and in any environment. And while pressure can start from external stressors, it is the struggle internally that can become problematic.
Pressure to do something that we want, that others want us to achieve, or that makes us uncomfortable can feel lonely. It is especially isolating if the pressure is felt like it is being inflicted by the people closest to us: parents, peers, teachers, coaches, colleagues, managers, partners, etc. Who can we talk to about the fear, the stress, and the uncertainty if the people closest to us can’t see our shaking hands, our heart racing, our sweating palms, our racing thoughts, our inability to fall asleep and stay asleep?
How do we manage when others don’t understand us?
Therapists are trained to forge the path to understanding. In therapy, they can help you understand yourself, understand the impact of your experiences, and understand what you are capable of in terms of growth and healing. Therapists can help you deal with life’s pressures whether they be big or small.
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