April is 'Stress Awareness Month'
01 April 2022
April is 'Stress Awareness Month', with a view to increasing awareness of stress, its impact on our health and wellbeing and how we can cope with it.
There can’t have been many more stressful periods in recent times than the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the last two years many of us have had to isolate from our friends and family, have been concerned over our health and the health and safety of our loved ones, and the potential impact on our finances. This has meant that addressing our mental health and stress awareness have never been more important.
We’re kicking off with a post explaining what stress is and providing some tips for reducing stress.
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily lives, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.
But too much stress can affect mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable and affect our self-esteem.
Possible causes of stress
Stress affects people differently, and the things that cause stress vary from person to person.
Stressful feelings typically happen when we feel we do not have the resources to manage the challenges we face. Pressures at work, school or home, illness, or difficult or sudden life events can all lead to stress. Some possible causes of stress are:
- Our individual genes, upbringing and experiences
- Difficulties in our personal lives and relationships
- Big or unexpected life changes, like moving house, having a baby or starting to care for someone
- Money difficulties, like debt or struggling to afford daily essentials
- Health issues, either for you or someone close to you
- Pregnancy and children
- Problems with housing, like the conditions, maintenance or tenancy
- A difficult or troubled work environment
- Feeling lonely and unsupported
Why not read this article on Understanding stress and anxiety
Tips for reducing stress
- Take control. Even if you can only change something small about your situation, it’s a start
- Build relationships. If you’re feeling stressed, talk to somebody. Reach out to family, a friend, or a mental health professional – the University’s Employee Assistance Programme offers an independent, free and confidential counselling service
- Take care of your body. Eating healthily, getting plenty of exercise, and establishing regular sleep patterns can all help reduce stress:
- Check out these tips for sleeping better.
- More information about stress and nutrition can be found here
- Practice mindfulness. As little as ten minutes of meditation or mindfulness a day has been shown to reduce stress;
- Help others. It may sound counterintuitive, but studies have shown that volunteering isn’t just good for others – it can be good for yourself.
For further information why not check out these stress busting tips
Evidence suggests that there are 5 steps we can take to improve our mental wellbeing. These 5 steps to mental wellbeing can be found on the University’s Wellbeing map of the Whiteknights campus.
10 keys to happier living can be found here.