Stress Awareness Month:
Is Love the Answer?
Table of Contents
HOUSTON, TX. APRIL 2025
Therapists and healthcare workers need to self-assess and follow their own advice when it comes to managing stress.
We are a nation under stress. Perhaps more so than ever. In the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America poll for 2024, seven in 10 adults reported that the economy, the presidential election and the future of the nation contributed to significant stress in their lives. These stress factors follow the previous year’s report that the trauma inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic continued to affect physical and mental health.
For frontline clinicians, this is not news. They’re on the receiving end of administering to the day-to-day stress of everyday Americans. But therapists are everyday Americans too. It’s just as important for those evaluating stress to monitor their own, said Arti Patel, clinical director for J. Flowers Health Institute.
“It’s important for us to be able to practice what we’re talking about by making sure we’re not overloading ourselves,” Patel says. “Our jobs can be stressful, especially when we’re listening to a person’s emotional pain every day. While it’s a privilege, we need to take care of ourselves to do our jobs effectively.”
National Stress Awareness Month (observed every April) is an opportunity to raise awareness of the causes and cures of stress – for those seeking treatment and those offering positive actions for overall well-being. For healthcare workers, evaluating their own stress and taking steps to ensure their own well-being will make them more efficient in their work helping others, Patel says.
“It’s something ongoing and fluid that we all need to be aware of,” she says.
Symptoms that stress may be affecting your mental health include anxiety and depression, increased irritability, panic attacks, general sadness, lack of motivation and restlessness. Stress can manifest itself in physical symptoms that include digestive issues, headaches or dizziness, body aches and pains, teeth grinding, fatigue, sleep problems, high blood pressure and sexual issues.
While studies suggest that the lingering effects of the pandemic are still being felt, Patel says that the global health crisis left us with some positive effects. “It brought to light the importance of mental health as people recognized that their mental well-being was just as important as their physical health.”
The pandemic also underscored the need for social interaction even when it was limited. “People realized the importance of community,” Patel says. “Our zoom and group calls underscored a sense of belonging and the need for fellowship.”
The theme of this year’s Stress Awareness Month – “Lead with Love” – amplifies that message by suggesting that compassion and self-care is a powerful force for change. “Lead with Love” advocates self-compassion, self-acceptance, setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing self-care.
For healthcare professionals managing their own stress, Patel could not agree more with this year’s theme. Since joining J. Flowers Health Institute, Patel has been a strong proponent of the self-compassion advocate Dr. Kristin Neff (self-compassion.org), the associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.
The tentpoles of Neff’s emphasis on self-compassion – mindfulness, self-kindness, and an awareness of a common humanity – are important for all those seeking solutions to stress; clients and therapists alike.
“The first lesson is to be your own best friend. As therapists we have to give that same loving kindness to ourselves,” Patel says. “It’s a good reminder during Stress Awareness Month. We should take this time to develop ways to manage our stress and work on our own internal coping skills.”
According to Stress Management Society, the #leadwithlove campaign’s overall takeaway is simple: Even the smallest acts of love can spark powerful waves of positivity that have ripple effects in each and every life.
About J. Flowers Health Institute
J. Flowers Health Institute delivers unparalleled health care to executives, high-profile individuals, young adults, adolescents, and those with complex conditions. Our Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Program uncovers the true source of any health issue and illuminates the most effective path to optimal wellness. The timeliness of our reports and diagnostic impressions allows the next appropriate level of care to begin promptly with a broad and deep understanding of the individual’s health and wellness.
Our multidisciplinary team of experts collaborates to deliver the future of whole-person health. We select the best providers and protocols from Western medicine, holistic health, integrative nutrition, sports medicine, and more that will help our clients reach optimal health. Our team’s coordination and collaboration offer each client a full continuum of care as appropriate for their unique circumstances.
Every client receives one-on-one support and personalized care. Our high-end medical facilities, access to the world’s largest medical campus, and private partnerships with exquisite hotels and spas ensure that we deliver an exceptional experience for every client. No detail is ever left to chance. Clients of J. Flowers Health Institute focus and heal in discreet comfort.
Share This Article
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
