Experiencing stress is a normal part of everyday life and too much stress doesn’t just make you feel bad, it can also be bad for your health. But there are steps to take to help manage it better.

You can find information and advice about coping with stress during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at this link:

COVID-19 and Mental Health (Link opens in new tab)

Pressure and stress

Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure.

Stress causes a surge of hormones in your body. These stress hormones are released to help you to deal with pressures or threats – the so-called 'fight or flight' response.

Too much stress can lead to a feeling of being unable to cope.

For example, dealing with changing demands and pressures from different areas in our lives, such as children’s needs, money worries, relationships or concerns about work.

If you think you're suffering from work-related stress you should speak to your employer.

Common signs of stress include:

• sleeping problems
• sweating
• loss of appetite
• difficulty concentrating

You may notice that you lose your temper more easily, drink more, or act unreasonably.

You may feel anxious, irritable, low in self-esteem, have racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over things in your head.

People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.

Stress is not an illness itself, but it can cause serious illness if it is not addressed.

Sometimes when stress is severe it can lead to burnout, with extreme emotional and physical exhaustion.

There are some practical steps you can take to deal with stress:

• learn how to relax - taking steps to unwind can help stop stress building up
• eat well - healthy eating can have a positive effect on your emotional wellbeing
• take regular exercise - being active can really help, so take a stroll, get out with the kids or with friends, or take the dog for a walk
• talk to someone - talking about your feelings can really help identify what is causing the additional stress

The key is to take positive action before stress really begins to affect your health and wellbeing.

Free stress control classes are available. They teach skills and techniques for managing stress.

You can find out more about classes at this link: 

• Stress control classes(external link opens in a new window / tab)