Background
National Stress Awareness Day is held Nationally on the first Wednesday of November on an annual basis.
National Stress Awareness Day is managed by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) and seeks to increase public awareness and to help individuals to understand how to manage and reduce stress in their lives.
This year National Stress Awareness Day will take place on the 2nd of November 2022.
What is Stress?
According to the NHS: “Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It’s very common, can be motivating to help us achieve thigs in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.
But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.”
Does stress affect my feelings?
Stress can affect your feelings in multiple ways, according to the Mental Health Foundation: ”You may feel:
- Anxious
- Afraid
- Angry or aggressive
- Sad
- Irritable
- Frustrated
- Depressed
These feelings can sometimes produce physical symptoms, making you feel even worse.”
Does stress affect my health?
Stress can affect your health from your body’s reactions, according to the Mental Health Foundation: “If you’re stressed, you may experience:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Digestion problems such as constipation, bloating or diarrhoea.
- Shallow breathing or hyperventilating
- Sweating
- Heart palpitations
- Aches and pains”
How can I reduce my stress?
There are many that are suggested to help reduce stress, some of these are listed below:
- Build supportive relationships – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Find close friends or family who can offer help and practical advice can support you in managing stress. Joining a club or a course can help to expand your social network and encourage you to do something different.”
- Eating healthily – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “A healthy diet can improve your mood. Getting enough nutrients (including essential vitamins and minerals) and water can help with your overall mental wellbeing.”
- Organise your time – According to mind.org.uk: “Some of us may feel stressed because we have a lot of things to manage in our life. In this case, changing the way we organise our time can help us feel more in control”.
- Take time for yourself – With everything that happens around us, it is always a good idea to take some time to yourself, do a hobby, read a book or watch your favourite show or movie. Maybe even go for a little walk or a nice hike.
- Be kind to yourself – According to the Mental Health Foundation: “Try to keep things in perspective and don’t be too hard on yourself. Look for things in your life that are positive and write down things that make you feel grateful.”
How can I join in on National Stress Awareness Day?
You can join in by:
- Sharing on social media – By sharing this article and other articles and information about National Stress Awareness Day and why it is so important and help to raise awareness.
- Taking time for yourself – Why not take some time for yourself today. Relax and have some tea, go enjoy that show you have been wanting to watch for a long time or simply go for a relaxing getaway.
- Read up on tips and tricks to maintain and reduce stress – Understanding how to manage and reduce stress can help you through any stressful situations that you might have to deal with in the future.