05/11/2020
Yesterday was, ๐ง International Stress Awareness Day๐ง
Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure.
Stress causes a surge of hormones in your body. These stress hormones are released to help you to deal with pressures or threats โ the so-called 'fight or flight' response.
Too much stress can lead to a feeling of being unable to cope. For example, dealing with changing demands and pressures from different areas in our lives, such as childrenโs needs, money worries, relationships or concerns about work.
If you think you're suffering from work-related stress you should speak to your employer.
Common signs of stress include:
๐ค Sleeping problems
๐งSweating
๐
โโ๏ธLoss of appetite
๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ Difficulty concentrating
You may notice that you lose your temper more easily, drink more, or act unreasonably. You may feel anxious, irritable, low in self-esteem, have racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over things in your head. People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.
Stress is not an illness itself, but it can cause serious illness if it is not addressed. Sometimes when stress is severe it can lead to burnout, with extreme emotional and physical exhaustion.
Dealing with stress
There are some practical steps you can take to deal with stress:
โ
Learn how to relax - taking steps to unwind can help stop stress building up
โ
Eat well - healthy eating can have a positive effect on your emotional wellbeing
โ
Take regular exercise - being active can really help, so take a stroll, get out with the kids or with friends, or take the dog for a walk
โ
Talk to someone - talking about your feelings can really help identify what is causing the additional stress
The key is to take positive action before stress really begins to affect your health and wellbeing.
Call into your local Pharmacy Plus store to talk to one of our pharmacist if you have symptoms of stress and would like some advice to help you manage your stress.
