Stress Awareness Month
According to the Mental Health Foundation in 2021 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. There is no health without mental health and stress can lead to numerous health problems. From physical problems, like heart disease, insomnia, digestive issues, immune system challenges, etc to more serious mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
What is stress?
Stress is not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing. Without this brilliant ability to feel stress, humankind wouldn’t have survived. Our cavemen ancestors, for example, used the onset of stress to alert them to a potential danger, such as a sabre-toothed tiger.
Stress is primarily a physical response. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion.
The challenge is when our body goes into a state of stress in inappropriate situations. When blood flow is going only to the most important muscles needed to fight or flee, brain function is minimised. This can lead to an inability to ‘think straight’; a state that is a great hindrance in both our work and home lives. If we are kept in a state of stress for long periods, it can be detrimental to our health. The results of having elevated cortisol levels can be an increase in sugar and blood pressure levels, and a decrease in libido.
Coping with stress
Follow the tips from The Stress Management Society to help you deal with stress:
- Adopt a Positive Mind Set
- Don’t be a Slave to Tech
- Eat for Wellbeing
- Get a Good Nights Sleep
- Get Moving to Combat Stress
- Learn to Say No
- Master Your Time
- Practice Deep Breathing
- Prioritise Your Health
- Stay Hydrated
Take the 30 day challenge.
The 30 Day Challenge encourages you to pick one action each for your Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellbeing to carry out every day. Try and add actions for your social and spiritual wellness too.
It takes 30 days to turn actions into habits, which is why this is a month-long programme. The 30-day challenge will maximise your chances of turning useful knowledge and techniques into positive behavioural change.
Support
If you feel like you need support to deal with your stress you can access help from the local Think Wellbeing service. This service service is for adults age 18 and over with common mental health problems like mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress. They can help with other problems like panic attacks, phobias and post traumatic stress disorder.
Visit: Think Wellbeing
You can find more support information at: Halton Mental Health Info point
