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April is Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic.  The pandemic has had a hugely detrimental effect on the nation’s mental health and experts advise that it is now and over the next few years that we will feel that impact and effect.  Stress Awareness month is a timely reminder that we need to take care of our health, to talk about stress and its effects.

Throughout this month, teams of experts aim to increase public awareness about stress.  This includes highlighting the causes of stress, the negative effects stress can have on the mind and body, and how to relieve stress.

Feeling stressed is something we might comment on from time to time if we’re under pressure, ‘have a lot on our plate’ or are coping with a big life change – but what is stress?

Stress causes physical changes in the body designed to help you take on threats or difficulties.

You may notice that your heart pounds, your breathing quickens, your muscles tense, and you start to sweat. This is sometimes known as the fight or flight response.

Once the threat or difficulty passes, these physical effects usually fade. But if you're constantly stressed, your body stays in a state of high alert and you may develop stress-related symptoms – such as:

  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Being irritable and "wound up"
  • Feeling anxious
  • Have difficulty concentrating 
  • Have difficulty making decisions
  • Headaches
  • Muscle tension or pain
  • Sleep problems
  • Feeling tired all the time 
  • Drinking or smoking more
  • Eating too much or too little
  • Snapping at people
  • Avoiding things or people you are having problems with

There are strategies however for helping you deal with periods of stress, for example:

  • Be active - exercise won't make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you're feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you to deal with your problems more calmly.
  • Take control - there's a solution to any problem. "If you remain passive, thinking, 'I can't do anything about my problem', your stress will get worse.
  • The act of taking control is in itself empowering, and it's a crucial part of finding a solution that satisfies you and not someone else.
  • Connect with people - a good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way. The activities we do with friends help us relax. We often have a good laugh with them, which is an excellent stress reliever.
  • Have some 'me time' and spend time doing the things you enjoy.
  • Challenge yourself, focus on something different and keep your mind active – learn a language, take up a new hobby / sport or volunteer – helping people has a positive impact on mental wellbeing.

What else could you do for Stress Awareness Month?

  • Talk about stress and its effects – talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family and colleagues to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress.
  • Share your coping mechanisms - if something has worked for you why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and in the meantime, it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
  • Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
  • Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self-care.  Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy.  Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.

The most crucial thing you can do when you are stressed or anxious is to make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Make time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you.

If you need support you can speak to a member of the timefortalking team via the 24 hour confidential helpline on 0800 970 3980 or visit timefortalking.co.uk.

Further help and information can be found on the

NB: These are a sample of available resources and websites for self-help, but not an exhaustive list.  If you are concerned about feeling stressed or any aspect of your mental health you should seek help from a medical professional.

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