Stress Awareness
National Stress Awareness Day was set up by the International Stress Management Association with the mission of raising awareness of the effects of psychological distress and strategies to address it.
Whether its work or juggling the balance of relationships and childcare, there are many lifestyle factors that contribute to stress that eventually lead to further mental health problems. We’ve got lots of tips and ideas covering the key areas of health and wellbeing to help you manage your mental health and feel your best self.
Take a look at the Mental Health UK website to find out more about some of these key areas and what you need to know about how they impact on stress.
https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/health-and-wellbeing/
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.
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
- Mental Health Awareness Interchange Link
- Mental Health Support Interchange Link
- Wellbeing Guidance Interchange Link
- Support Services Guide
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
NB: These are a sample of available resources and web sites 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.