It’s April which means it is Stress Awareness Month! We all face stress in one form or the other and sometimes it feels quite overwhelming, especially when you don’t know how to manage stress.
In this article I will be going through what stress is, effects of stress and how to manage it.
The main thing I’d like to start with is stress being seen as something ‘bad’ however without stress our ancestors wouldn’t have survived as it alerts them of danger.
So now that’s out the way let’s get into what stress actually is! Stress is basically a physical response when your body feels like it’s under attack. Your body then goes into a phase of ‘fight-or-flight’ causing a release of chemicals such as: adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine. Some physical symptoms of stress can include: headaches, insomnia, chest pains and nausea.
5 steps to tackle stress:
1. Practice deep breathing
2. Eat for wellbeing and stay hydrated
3. Have a good sleep
4. Exercise
5. Be in control of your time
There’s an unlimited supply of resources at the tip of our fingers, ranging from stress toolkits to online events. This website explains everything you need to know about stress and combating it: https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month-2019/ where you can also find the ‘Individual Stress Test’.
Just remember, you’re not alone in this and never feel afraid to reach out for help.