5 things to know about stress

Stress affects everyone. Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Some people may cope with stress more effectively or recover from stressful events more quickly than others.

There are different types of stress – all of which carry physical and mental health risks.  A stressor may be a one time or short term occurrence, or it can be an occurrence that keeps happening over a long period of time.

Examples of stress include: Routine stress related to the pressures of work, school, family and other daily responsibilities Stress brought about by a sudden negative change, such as losing a job, divorce, or illness Traumatic stress experienced in an event like a major accident, war, assault, or a natural disaster where people may be in danger of being seriously hurt or killed.  People who experience traumatic stress often experience temporary symptoms of mental illness, but most recover naturally soon after. Not all stress is bad. Stress can motivate people to prepare or perform, like when they need to take a test or interview for a new job.  Stress can even be life-saving in some situations.

In response to danger, your body prepares to face a threat or flee to safety.  In these situations, your pulse quickens, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity – all functions aimed at survival.

Long-term stress can harm your health. Health problems can occur if the stress response goes on for too long or becomes chronic, such as when the source of stress is constant, or if the response continues after the danger has subsided.

With chronic stress, those same life-saving responses in your body can suppress immune, digestive, sleep, and reproductive systems, which may cause them to stop working normally.

Different people may feel stress in different ways.  For example, some people experience mainly digestive symptoms, while others may have headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger or irritability.  People under chronic stress are prone to more frequent and severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold.

Routine stress may be the hardest type of stress to notice at first.  Because the source of stress tends to be more constant than in cases of acute or traumatic stress, the body gets no clear signal to return to normal functioning.  Over time, continued strain on your body from routine stress may contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses, as well as mental disorders like depression or anxiety. There are ways to manage stress. The effects of stress tend to build up over time.  Taking practical steps to manage your stress can reduce or prevent these effects.  The following are some tips that may help you to cope with stress: Recognize the Signs of your body’s response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy. Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and reduce stress. Try a Relaxing Activity. Explore stress coping programs, which may incorporate meditation, yoga, tai chi, or other gentle exercises. For some stress-related conditions, these approaches are used in addition to other forms of treatment. Set Goals and Priorities. Decide what must get done and what can wait, and learn to say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload.  Note what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do. Stay Connected with people who can provide emotional and other support.  To reduce stress, ask for help from friends, family, and community or religious organizations. If you’re overwhelmed by stress, ask for help from a health professional. Everyone suffers from stress, so it is important to remember you are NEVER alone.

If you wish to talk to our team of experts, call us on 01282 453 110 and we can help you get back to feeling your best.