What is stress?
Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause this. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected or that threatens our sense of self, or when we feel we have little control over a situation.
We all deal with stress differently. Our ability to cope can depend on our genetics, early life events, personality and social and economic circumstances. When we encounter stress, our body produces hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. This helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations.
Sometimes, this response can be useful: it can help us push through fear or pain so we can run a marathon or deliver a speech, for example. Our stress hormones will usually go back to normal quickly once the event is over, and there won’t be any lasting effects.
What are the signs?
How you might feel
You may feel:
- anxious
- afraid
- angry or aggressive
- sad
- irritable
- frustrated
- depressed.
Who is affected by stress?
All of us can probably recognise some of the feelings described above. Some people seem to be more affected by stress than others. For some people, getting out of the door on time each morning can be a very stressful experience, whereas others may be less affected with a great deal of pressure.
Some people are more likely to experience stressful situations than others. For example:
- people with a lot of debt or financial insecurity are more likely to be stressed about money
- people from minority ethnic groups or who are LGBTIQ+ are more likely to be stressed about prejudice or discrimination
- people with disabilities or long-term health conditions are more likely to be stressed about their health or about stigma associated with their condition.
How can you help yourself?
- Recognize when stress is a problem
- Think about where you can make changes
- Build supportive relationships
- Eat healthily
- Be aware of your smoking and drinking
- Get some exercise
- Take time out and practice self-care
- Be mindful
- Get some restful sleep
- Be kind to yourself