National Stress Awareness Day takes place every year on 3rd November. This awareness day was set up by the International Stress Management Association and their mission is to raise awareness of the effects of psychological distress in the workplace and ways of managing stress.
When we are stressed, our body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol - this is our body's reaction to helping us deal with pressures or 'threats'. You might have heard of the 'fight or flight' response which is where our body prepares to react to a pressured or dangerous situation.
A small amount of stress can be helpful - motivating us to complete tasks and can even make us feel excited. Too much stress can often have a negative impact on our mental health as well as other areas of our lives.
If you are feeling stressed why don't you give the below stress busters a go?
Other things you can do to try and help with stress:
talking about your feelings can be hard but try your best to talk to a friend, family member or health professional. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org if you need someone to talk to.
Find out more about 10 stress busters – including getting started with exercise and setting aside time for yourself
Use easy time-management techniques to help you take control
Plan ahead for stressful days or events – planning long journeys or making a list of things to remember can really help.
Consider peer support, where people use their experiences to help each other. Find out more about peer support on the Mind website
Listen to free mental wellbeing audio guides
Search and download relaxation and mindfulness apps or online community apps from the NHS apps library.
Things to avoid doing when you are feeling stressed:
Don't try to do everything at once – set small targets you can easily achieve
Don't focus on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy into helping yourself feel better
Try not to tell yourself that you're alone – most people feel stressed at some point in their life and support is available
Try to avoid alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve stress – these can all contribute to poor mental health
