Stress Awareness Week 2019

Reflecting on National Stress Awareness Week November 2019, we look at identifying and reducing the stress factors in our life.

What Is Stress?

Stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations – whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight,” or the stress response.

During stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises. You’ve gotten ready to act. It is how you protect yourself.

Everyone has stress

Some stress is good for us. It helps us to respond to changes in life. Stress is our body’s way of protecting itself from harm. However, too much stress causes harm to our health and relationships.

Identifying the stressors impacting our physical and mental health is important. Sometimes, health problems are the cause. But our health can also be affected by external stressors such as physical abuse, stressful work environments, financial stress, or other family health issues.

Once we identify the causes of stress in our lives, we can begin to eliminate or reduce the stress.

We found some tools that help with stress:

Develop coping skills for anxiety.
Identify and let go of the things you cannot change.
Exercise helps us to let go of built-up anxiety.
Eating a balanced diet fuels our bodies so we better cope with stress.

To take part in Stress Week 2019 try some of the activities listed below:

Develop a routine to help you lessen your tension.
Go for a walk.
Do some deep breathing.
Get some exercise
Book a massage or take a long, relaxing bath.

De-stigmatising stress and mental health personally and in the workplace

The challenges presented by stress and mental health problems are of considerable importance for organisations as well as individuals.

Ending the stigma associated with stress and mental health is an organisational imperative and employers are moving in the right direction in this area.