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Mental Health Foundation Publication On Managing Stress Issued For Stress Awareness Month

The guide, 'How to manage and reduce stress' is full of information about the mental health impact of stress, ways to cope, and even a worksheet to help you identify the things that cause you stress and work through them, says the introduction to the document on the Mental Health Foundation's website.

The guide covers several elements regarding stress management, including what Stress is, how it affects your everyday life, and how to address the issues and cope with it.

The MHF website explains:

"Stress is both natural and familiar – it’s something we all experience from time to time. In moderation, a small amount of stress can help us feel motivated and complete tasks. However, when stress is too intense or lasts for a long time, it can affect our day-to-day life and even our physical and mental health. You may not be able to avoid stress, but there are ways to manage it before it becomes overwhelming. Our guide explains the ins and outs of stress and techniques to help you manage and reduce your stress."  

Key to understanding that stress is something everyone experiences in their everyday lives, it is just the degree and coping abilities that differ from person to person, as does the way in which stress manifests itself in each of us.

There are two key elements of stress upon human beings across the world - the physical body and that of the mind.

The effects of stress on the body can be triggered by the release of hormones which allow us to deal with pressures or threats. Continued release of these hormones over a long time can cause physical symptoms of stress such as:

• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Racing heartbeat
• Stomach upset

Alongside these physical symptoms of stress, you may also experience common behavioural and emotional symptoms. These are:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Constant worry
• Irritability and mood swings
• Sleep changes
• Changes to eating habits
• Using unhealthy habits (like smoking or drinking)

These are just some of the common symptoms of stress – it’s not an exhaustive list. Plus, symptoms of stress can vary depending on what’s causing it. 

Original produced in December 2024, this guide to coping with stress is an excellent resource and one that is available from the Unionsafety E-Library, by clicking the image above right.

Source: Mental Health Foundation / unionsafety

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