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Dealing with Stress: Stress Awareness Month

Over the last year, we have all dealt with a tremendous amount of change, having to balance so many priorities such as work and home schooling, handle many worries about health, money and family, and our Mental Health has been heavily impacted. And to make matter worse our support network has been stripped away leaving many to manage on their own, resulting in isolation and loneliness.

The World Health Organisation has warned that mental health will be one of the biggest burdens on health in developed countries this decade. The pandemic has heightened this issue, and many are calling for increased support for mental health services.

The signs

Many of us probably recognise when we are under pressure but do not necessarily realise when we are stressed. Stress can manifest itself in many ways, not just mentally such as:

  • Aches and pains, even chest pains and headaches
  • Exhaustion
  • Sleeping issues
  • High blood pressure
  • Stomach and digestive issues
  • Reduced immune system
  • Tension and jaw clenching

Many symptoms can be easily missed or explained by other causes but ignoring stress can lead to unhealthy habits or increased anxiety or irritability, panic attacks and depression. So, if you feel like you are suffering from stress then try some of the coping mechanisms below and seek help if it persists.

How to elevate stress

Many of our outlets for elevating stress have been taken away but as the country emerges from lockdown and the weather improves we can hopefully return to some of our usual coping mechanisms and support networks.

Some of the things you can do are:

  • Exercise
  • Create a relaxing environment to unwind, eg candles, soothing music, dimmed lights
  • Reduce caffeine as it can increase anxiety
  • Problem shared…. Speak to friends or family
  • Laughter is the best medicine…. Watch a comedy or set up a fun activity with friends even if it is virtually
  • Try to stop taking on so much and learn to say no
  • Try to remove yourself from situations that can be stressful wherever possible
  • Break down and prioritise what you need to do and cross things off as you achieve them
  • Writing down your concerns can help release them
  • Explore yoga or mindfulness techniques and employ breathing techniques
  • Physical contact can help
  • Interaction with your pet can also help

What can employers do to help?

As an employer, you have a duty of care to your employees and there are many things that you can do to help reduce stress for your employees, such as:

  • Reducing work pressures
  • Providing opportunities to talk or access to support services
  • Signposting to support
  • Help remove the stigma surrounding stress
  • Creating relaxing facilities for breaks
  • Providing training for staff such as our 3-hour Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health in the Workplace which can help participants to identify colleagues that might need help and includes how to ‘start the conversation’ and signposting

If we can help you with training please get in touch to find out more.

The post Dealing with Stress: Stress Awareness Month appeared first on Mett Training.



This post first appeared on Basic First Aid For The Outdoors, please read the originial post: here

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Dealing with Stress: Stress Awareness Month

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