Autumn has this quiet magic, doesn’t it? The air cools, the colours soften, and the trees begin to let go of what they no longer need. It can look like an ending, but really, it’s a preparation. The trees aren’t giving up, they’re protecting their roots, storing strength, making space for new life in the spring.
Photo by Fred Russo
Stress can feel a lot like that. It’s not pleasant when you’re in the middle of it, it can feel heavy, loud, and exhausting. But often, stress is simply a signal. A little nudge from your mind or body saying, “Something needs care here.”
The Different Ways Stress Shows Up
Stress isn’t one size fits all.
Sometimes it’s environmental stress, like being stuck in a noisy room with too many voices at once. The world just feels too full.
Other times it’s energetic stress, when you’ve been running and running, and suddenly it feels like your personal battery is flashing red.
And then there’s emotional stress, the kind that feels like carrying around a heavy backpack filled with worries, grief, or expectations you didn’t ask for.
Stories We All Know Too Well
Let me give you a picture. Imagine you’re juggling. At first, three oranges, it’s fun, maybe even energizing. But then someone hands you a fourth… then a fifth… until suddenly, you’re not juggling anymore, you’re just bracing for the moment one drops. Stress is that moment, the edge between holding it all together and letting something fall. The real wisdom? You’re allowed to set some of those oranges down.
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
Or picture a teapot on the stove. If you leave it too long, it starts whistling, shrill, impossible to ignore. That sound isn’t the problem, it’s the signal. Stress works the same way. It’s not your enemy, it’s your body’s way of saying, “Please, take me off the heat for a moment.”
And then there’s the autumn leaf. Maybe you’ve seen one, clinging tightly to the branch while the wind pulls and tugs. It resists, afraid of the fall. But when it finally lets go, it drifts gently, beautifully, landing softly on the earth. In time, it becomes nourishment for what grows next. Sometimes letting go of what weighs us down, old fears, impossible standards, “shoulds” that aren’t really ours, isn’t weakness. It’s the start of new strength.
Gentle Ways to Care for Yourself
For environmental stress, create little islands of calm. Step outside for a deep breath, close your eyes for a minute, or turn down the noise with a favourite song.
For energetic stress, rest before exhaustion insists on it. Give yourself permission to slow down, take a nap, or end the day earlier than planned.
For emotional stress, lighten the backpack. Write your thoughts down. Share them with someone safe. You don’t always have to solve, sometimes, you just need to unload.
Stress as a Teacher, Not an Enemy
Autumn reminds us that letting go is part of growth. Stress doesn’t come to punish you, it comes to guide you. It’s the wind shaking loose what no longer serves you. It’s the kettle’s whistle, asking you to pause. It’s an invitation to strengthen your roots, even when your branches feel bare.
As a clinical hypnotherapist and coach, this is the work I do, walking with you through your seasons of change. Not to make stress disappear, but to help you understand it, soften it, and even transform it into a source of strength.
If you’re feeling weighed down right now, know this, you are not breaking. You are becoming. And you don’t have to go through it alone, I’m here to walk with you.
Photo by Andrey Zvyagintsev
If this resonates with you, I invite you to take the next small step. Reach out for a free discovery call, join me for a session, or simply send me a message to share what’s on your heart.
Together, we can find gentle ways to turn your stress into strength, just as autumn turns falling leaves into the soil of new beginnings.
Main – Photo by Aaron Burden
About the Author: Mrunalni Bagal
