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J. Connor Barnhart, MD

Stress Treatment in San Francisco

Also known as: Chronic Stress, Stress Response, Psychological Stress, Tension, Nervous Tension

3 min readLast updated: 2026-02-20
Reviewed by J. Connor Barnhart, MD

Stress is the body's response to any demand or challenge. While acute stress can be helpful in certain situations, chronic stress can have significant negative effects on physical and mental health. Chronic stress occurs when stressors persist over an extended period, keeping the body in a constant state of alertness.

At a Glance

  • Chronic stress can have significant negative effects on both physical and mental health[1]
  • According to the American Psychological Association, more than a quarter of U.S. adults say they are so stressed most days that they cannot function[2]
  • Effective stress management techniques can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms[3]
  • Stress responses are highly individual and can vary significantly from person to person

Affected Anatomy

  • Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
  • Autonomic nervous system
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Immune system
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Digestive system

What are the symptoms of Stress?

  • Persistent feelings of being overwhelmed
  • Difficulty relaxing or quieting the mind
  • Muscle tension, especially in neck and shoulders
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in appetite
  • Digestive problems

When to See a Psychiatrist for Stress

  • Stress that persists despite attempts to manage it on your own
  • Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, or digestive issues
  • Difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or making decisions due to stress
  • Relying on alcohol, substances, or unhealthy coping mechanisms
  • Feeling overwhelmed by life transitions, career demands, or relationship issues
  • Stress accompanied by anxiety, depression, or irritability

If any of these apply, consider reaching out to schedule a visit.

What causes Stress?

Causes

  • Work-related pressures and deadlines
  • Financial difficulties
  • Relationship problems
  • Major life changes
  • Health concerns or underlying mental health problems that aren't being addressed
  • Caregiving responsibilities
  • Environmental factors

Risk Factors

  • High-pressure work environment
  • Lack of social support
  • Maladaptive coping skills
  • Perfectionist tendencies
  • History of trauma
  • Multiple concurrent life stressors

How It's Diagnosed

  • 1Comprehensive assessment of symptoms and history by healthcare provider
  • 2Questionnaires measuring impact of stress on mental health
  • 3Physical examination and lab tests to rule out other conditions, as appropriate
  • 4Assessment of lifestyle factors

How is Stress treated?

I offer several approaches for stress:

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is an evidence-supported form of talk therapy rooted in longstanding psychoanalytic theory about how unconscious thoughts, past ...

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and modifying unhelpful patterns ...

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Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, refers to a variety of treatment approaches that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions,...

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Medication Management

Medication management refers to the ongoing, physician-supervised process of prescribing, monitoring, and adjusting psychiatric medications to treat m...

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Lifestyle Optimization

Lifestyle optimization is an evidence-based approach to mental health that uses individually tailored behavioral interventions – including sleep hygie...

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Prognosis and Recovery

  • Stress symptoms often improve with appropriate management of root causes
  • Learning coping strategies can provide long-term benefits
  • Ongoing stress management may be necessary
  • Early intervention tends to lead to better outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

Stress is the body's response to any demand or challenge. While acute stress can be helpful in certain situations, chronic stress can have significant negative effects on physical and mental health. Chronic stress occurs when stressors persist over an extended period, keeping the body in a constant state of alertness.
Common symptoms include persistent feelings of being overwhelmed, difficulty relaxing, muscle tension especially in the neck and shoulders, headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Many people also experience irritability, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, and digestive problems. These can also be signs of mental health disorders.
Stress can result from work-related pressures and deadlines, financial difficulties, relationship problems, major life changes, health concerns, and caregiving responsibilities. Environmental factors, lack of social support, and having multiple concurrent life stressors can also contribute to chronic stress.
See a psychiatrist if stress is persistent, affects your daily functioning, or occurs alongside anxiety or mood changes. A psychiatrist can help identify underlying factors and develop an effective management plan.
Treatment options include stress management techniques, mindfulness and meditation practices, regular exercise, breathing exercises, and therapy to build coping skills. Time management strategies and lifestyle modifications can also reduce ongoing stressors.
Stress symptoms often improve with appropriate management. Learning coping strategies through therapy or stress management programs can provide long-term benefits. Early intervention tends to lead to better outcomes, though ongoing stress management practices may be necessary to maintain well-being.
Helpful home strategies include practicing mindfulness, meditation, or guided relaxation, performing breathing exercises, engaging in regular movement or exercise, and maintaining consistent sleep and meal routines. Limiting alcohol and caffeine, staying connected with supportive people, and setting boundaries around work demands can also help reduce stress.
Dr. Barnhart helps patients understand the root causes of stress through insight-oriented therapy while building practical coping strategies. Treatment may also include lifestyle modifications, mindfulness approaches, and medication when clinically appropriate.

Your Practitioner

J. Connor Barnhart

J. Connor Barnhart, MD

Dr. J. Connor Barnhart is a board-certified psychiatrist and psychotherapist practicing in San Francisco. He completed his psychiatry residency at UCSF, where he trained in the Bipolar, LGBT, and Women's Mental Health specialty clinics and developed focused expertise in integrative psychiatry through a year-long rotation at the UCSF Osher Center. He attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and graduated from Brown University with honors in Human Biology. His practice combines insight-oriented therapy, medication management, supplements, and lifestyle optimization to holistically address the root causes of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, and difficulties with focus.

Sources & References

This article draws from 4 sources, including NIH, leading medical institutions.

Government & Research

Medical Institutions

Educational & General

Medically reviewed by J. Connor Barnhart, MD · Last reviewed: 2026-06-03