Stress Awareness Month is held every April to raise awareness of the causes and impact stress can have on us.
What is stress?
There are all kinds of stressful situations that can be a part of daily life. Stress is a natural reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It's very common, can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life. But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable and affect our self-esteem.
Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period of time can also lead to a feeling of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often called burnout.
What are the signs and symptoms of stress?
Some of the signs of stress that you, a colleague, friends or family might feel can include:
There are plenty of things you can do to help cope with stressful events, and simple steps you can take to deal with feelings of stress or burnout. If you have been experiencing stress for some time and it's affecting your daily life or causing you distress, you should consider seeking further support. We have included some useful online support and information below and over the following weeks during Stress Awareness Month will be sharing self-care tips.
Useful online support and information
EEAST Crisis Line
When life gets too tough: you don’t know what to do or who to turn to, call the EEAST Crisis Line on 0808 196 2370.
Published 3rd April 2023