Though not in itself a mental health problem, stress can be difficult and unpleasant to deal with and can have a serious and debilitating effect on life for some.
Stress can often lead to the development of mental health issues or it can make pre-existing mental health problems worse.
There is no easy fix for dealing with stress, however there are things you can do to help you deal with it and to ease the effects. Here are some tips:
- Don't keep stress bottled up. Talk about your feelings to friends, family or healthcare professionals
- Be active and exercise. Although it won't get rid of stress, exercise can help in alleviating its symptoms. Check out this article for advice on how to get active
- Try not to do too much at once. This can lead to overload and then make it difficult to do even simple tasks
- Take regular breaks. Breaks can make you feel refreshed and help you to relax
- Learn some calming breathing techniques to help deal with the symptoms of stress. Watch the “Breathing” video from Mind for a simple breathing exercise guide
- Our diet can have a big impact on our well-being. When we are stressed, we often eat unhealthily. Try to eat well as it will make you feel better in the long term
- Get quality sleep. Being rested helps your ability to deal with stress. However, if we are stressed, it can be difficult to sleep. See Mind's page "How to cope with sleep problems" for more information.
- Learn new time management and organisation tips to help deal with your workload
- Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms and habits for dealing with stress, such as over-consumption of alcohol, cigarettes or caffeine.
- Have some time to yourself. Although it can be difficult, try to find some time in the evenings or weekend to relax and unwind
- Be kind to yourself. We all make mistakes and need help at times. Being overly critical of yourself can make you more more stressed.
Please don't suffer alone. If you're struggling with how you are feeling, contact our Help Point.