National Stress Awareness Month

April is stress awareness month, and it is true that we are living in one of the most

highly stressed eras. It has become the norm for many of us.

A little stress is actually healthy as it helps us to stay focused and on task. If you

have an exam coming up, a little stress can help you focus on revising. If you have a

presentation due for work, a little stress will help you prepare.

However, stress should never be a long-term experience.

So, what is happening to your body when stress arises? Well, it’s your bodies way of

responding to a real or perceived threat. It triggers the flight, fight, freeze response,

which is your body’s own way of trying to protect you.

The problem is that whilst a little stress can be healthy, too much stress can take a

toll on your wellbeing.

Research from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that in the last 12

months more than 50% of Australians have experienced personal stress.

Some of the key drivers of the stress that we are witnessing in our

communities are:

Work related stress is on the rise, with company culture, poor management,

demands of the job and physical environments as some of the biggest issues faced.

One study showed that 16 - 35-year-olds were found to have much higher levels of

stress that those between the ages of 65 – 85 years.

Tertiary students were reported as having higher levels of stress than the general

population and resorted to ‘unhelpful’ ways to manage their stress, which had a

knock-on effect to their academic performance.

Financial stress has also proven to be a major contributor to the national stress we

are seeing and on average 33% of the population felt stress related to the pressure

of not having enough time.

Sometimes we can be acutely aware of the stress that we are facing, but there are

other times when the stress in our lives builds up over a period of time and so we

miss some of the key warning signs that it is starting to have an impact on the way

we feel, act and think and ultimately impacting our daily lives.

You might be feeling more:

Worried or fearful

Tense and on edge

Scared or nervous

Irritable or agitated

Panicky

You may experience:

Sleep problems

Pounding heart

Headaches

Concentration difficulties

Digestive issues

Muscle tension

You may find that you:

Eat more or less

Withdraw from friends and family

Procrastinate or neglect responsibilities

Use alcohol or other drugs to relax

There are a number of coping strategies that you can try to help you manage

your stress better.

Regular exercise has been found to be beneficial in lifting mood. It doesn’t mean that

you have to go and join a gym, simply going for a walk can make a difference.

Connection with others has been shown to release stress-relief hormones when you

are feeling agitated or unsure of how to handle life.

A routine sleep pattern has been effective in improving a person’s mental health.

Your body needs time to recover from stressful situations and sleep is when this can

occur.

A healthy diet rich in fresh fruit and veg, with a balance of protein and omega-3 fatty

acids will also promote positive mental health.

Relaxation techniques promote a state of restfulness which is contra to the stress

response.

Finally a digital detox can help with the overwhelm of life and give you a chance to

reset.