What is stress? Ultimately, stress is what happens when the demands placed upon us exceed our ability to cope. It can affect our mind and the way we think, our body, resulting in a whole host of physical symptoms and conditions, our emotions and how we feel, and also our behaviour. Its impact on us, as individuals, and on those around us can be enormous.
Causes of stress
Modern life seems to bring with it high levels of stress.
Global and societal pressures and worries can weigh on our minds: e.g.fears associated with Covid, global events, terrorist attacks, Brexit, climate change, NHS pressures, lack of job security and social media pressures. We also face personal pressures such as those relating to health, money, work, children, relationships and elderly relatives.
Other factors that contribute to the level of stress we experience include feeling a lack of control over a situation, having too much to do and not enough time to do it, no time to recharge, low self-esteem, painful past experiences, poor support networks, fears of what might happen in the future and a ‘worrier’ personality.
Causes of stress
Modern life seems to bring with it high levels of stress.
Global issues and societal pressures and worries can weigh on our minds. We also face personal pressures such as those relating to health, money, work, children, relationships and elderly relatives.
Other factors that contribute to the level of stress we experience include feeling a lack of control over a situation, having too much to do and not enough time to do it, no time to recharge, low self-esteem, painful past experiences, poor support networks, fears of what might happen in the future and a ‘worrier’ personality.
Are you stressed?
- Are you easily irritated/angered?
- Are you more emotional and tearful?
- Do you struggle to concentrate and find yourself forgetting things?
- Are you losing or putting on weight?
- Do you feel tired all the time even if you sleep well?
- Are you struggling to get to sleep or waking early?
- Are you suffering from physical symptoms related to stress? e.g. panic attacks, muscle aches, migraines
- Are you bringing work home and working in the evenings?
- Are you missing meals or working through meals?
- Are you snacking on sugary and/or fatty foods?
- Are you relying on nicotine, caffeine, alcohol or other drugs to get you through the day?
- Are you lacking quality time with the important people in your life?
- Are you lacking time to do things you enjoy?
Are you stressed?
- Are you easily irritated/angered?
- Are you more emotional and tearful?
- Do you struggle to concentrate and find yourself forgetting things?
- Are you losing or putting on weight?
- Do you feel tired all the time even if you sleep well?
- Are you struggling to get to sleep or waking early?
- Are you suffering from physical symptoms related to stress? e.g. panic attacks, muscle aches, migraines
- Are you bringing work home and working in the evenings?
- Are you missing meals or working through meals?
- Are you snacking on sugary and/or fatty foods?
- Are you relying on nicotine, caffeine, alcohol or other drugs to get you through the day?
- Are you lacking quality time with the important people in your life?
- Are you lacking time to do things you enjoy?
If you are showing signs of stress, you need to act now to prevent the situation potentially worsening. I can help you.
Stress & Health
Stress can impact significantly on mental, physical and emotional health. It can lead to clinical anxiety and depression and is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and an irregular heart beat called Atrial Fibrillation (which has health implications). Stress can also lead to a whole host of different physical symptoms, including migraines, tension headaches, panic attacks, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue.
Many coping strategies are unhealthy and can lead to problems. For example, alcohol use can lead to liver disease and addiction issues, unhealthy eating/snacking and reduced exercise can lead to weight gain, heart disease and diabetes, smoking is a causative factor for many diseases and caffeine can predispose people to palpitations and panic attacks. Too much time on social media can impact on mental health and excessive shopping can lead to financial problems. Unhealthy coping behaviours are often enjoyable and provide a quick fix but, long-term, can have significant negative consequences.
Stress & Health
Stress can impact significantly on mental, physical and emotional health. It can lead to clinical anxiety and depression and is known to increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and an irregular heart beat called Atrial Fibrillation (which has health implications). Stress can also lead to a whole host of different physical symptoms, including migraines, tension headaches, panic attacks, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue.
Many coping strategies are unhealthy and can lead to problems. For example, alcohol use can lead to liver disease and addiction issues; unhealthy eating/snacking and reduced exercise can lead to weight gain, heart disease and diabetes; smoking is a causative factor for many diseases; caffeine can predispose people to palpitations and panic attacks. Too much time on social media can impact on mental health, eye health and posture; excessive shopping can lead to financial problems. Unhealthy coping behaviours are often enjoyable and provide a quick fix but, long-term, can have significant negative consequences.
How I can help you
My One-to-One zoom sessions provide a space in which I can help you recognise, explore and navigate your stress, providing you with understanding and with useful self-care tools. My book, ‘Dealing with Stress: the mind, body, spirit way’ is a handy reference tool which encourages self-reflection as well as providing a lot of advice on self-care.
Stress & Business
Every year, millions of work days are lost due to stress, anxiety and depression and billions of pounds are lost to the economy. (See UK Statistics Authority figures from Labour Force Surveys relating to stress and also the CMO’s report from Health and Social Care at www.gov.uk 2014).
Stress & Business
Every year, millions of work days are lost due to stress, anxiety and depression and billions of pounds are lost to the economy. (See UK Statistics Authority figures from Labour Force Surveys relating to stress and also the CMO’s report from Health and Social Care at www.gov.uk 2014).
How does stress affect business?
Employees can be signed off due to stress-related illnesses. This can last weeks or months. Expensive.
How does stress affect business?
Employees can be signed off due to stress-related illnesses. This can last weeks or months. Expensive.
There are work load implications for colleagues. There is pressure on employers to find temporary cover. In some cases, people leave their job which has significant financial and time implications for employers with the loss of valuable investment into an employee’s training and experience.
Employees struggling with stress don’t work efficiently (Presenteeism). As a result their productivity goes down and they are prone to making mistakes. Expensive.
Stress can affect the mood and behaviour of employees which impacts negatively on their interactions with colleagues.
Employers are encouraged to provide a healthy and supportive environment for their staff. It also makes sense to educate employees on how to help themselves become more resilient. Providing this education makes financial sense and also breeds loyalty and appreciation from employees, a total win-win for your business.
Stress is a threat to the productivity of your business – dealing with stress proactively is a smart and effective strategy.
There are work load implications for colleagues. There is pressure on employers to find temporary cover. In some cases, people leave their job which has significant financial and time implications for employers with the loss of valuable investment into an employee’s training and experience.
Employees struggling with stress don’t work efficiently (Presenteeism). As a result their productivity goes down and they are prone to making mistakes. Expensive.
Stress can affect the mood and behaviour of employees which impacts negatively on their interactions with colleagues.
Employers are encouraged to provide a healthy and supportive environment for their staff. It also makes sense to educate employees on how to help themselves become more resilient. Providing this education makes financial sense and also breeds loyalty and appreciation from employees, a total win-win for your business.
Stress is a threat to the productivity of your business – dealing with stress proactively is a smart and effective strategy.
What I can provide
I offer a proactive approach to stress. My workshops and webinars empower individuals by helping them to reflect on the pressures and worries they are dealing with, to understand how stress affects them and to learn about things they can do or change which will increase their resilience. Also to become more aware of the signs of stress in others. My 1-2-1 sessions provide more focused support for employees needing it.