The Flyer
April is Stress awareness month
Stress is primarily a
physical response.
When stressed, the
body thinks it is
under attack and
switches to ‘fi ght
or fl ight’ mode,
releasing a complex
mix of hormones
and chemicals to
Alison Lambert
prepare the body
for physical action.
Being under pressure is a normal part
of life and is not necessarily a bad
thing. It can help you take action, feel
more energised and get results. But
if you often become overwhelmed by
stress, these feelings could start to be
a problem. There might be one big
thing causing you stress, but stress can
also be caused by a build-up of small
pressures. People experience stress in
different ways and this contributes to
stress manifesting itself differently. To
minimise risk is to identify stress-
related problems as early as possible,
so that action can be taken before
serious stress-related illness occurs.
Stress isn’t a psychiatric diagnosis,
but it’s closely linked to your mental
health:-
Stress can cause mental health
problems
Mental health problems can cause
stress
vary activities, ask for help, take
regular breaks, particularly within
the workplace - breaks prevent
decision fatigue; are essential for
physical and emotional health;
restore motivation and are essential
to achieve our highest level of
productivity and creativity
• Address some of the causes –
consider if are there some practical
ways you could resolve or improve
some of the issues that are putting
pressure on you
Changes may be emotional, physical
or behavioural, or a combination of all
three. So, the key thing is to look out
for negative changes of any kind. Bear
in mind that the negative changes are
also likely to have knock-on effects e.g.
reduced performance at work.
Prolonged stress undoubtedly
makes people ill. It is now known
to contribute to heart disease,
hypertension and high blood pressure,
it affects the immune system, is linked
to strokes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
ulcers, diabetes, muscle and joint pain,
miscarriage, allergies and alopecia
• Accept the things you can’t change
- accepting that there are some
things happening to you that you
probably can’t do anything about
will help you focus your time and
energy more productively.
Ways to develop Resilience
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prioritise Your Health
Get a Good Nights Sleep
Practice Deep Breathing
Stay Hydrated
Eat for Wellbeing
Get Moving to Combat Stress
• Adopt a Positive Mind Set
• Master Your Time
• Don’t be a Slave to Tech
• Learn to Say No
Stress isn’t a medical diagnosis, so
there is no specifi c treatment for
it. However, there are treatments
available if you are fi nding it very hard
to cope with things going on in your
life and are experiencing lots of signs
of stress. These include:
Talking treatments – including
cognitive behaviour therapy,
mindfulness
Ecotherapy - spending time in
nature - physical exercise in green
spaces, gardening or taking part in a
conservation project.
Complementary and alternative
therapies - yoga and meditation,
acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage.
Medication – there is no specifi c
medication for stress. However, there
are various medications available
which can help to reduce or manage
some of the signs of stress.
Dealing with pressure
• Identify your triggers - Issues that
come up regularly, one-off events,
ongoing stressful event
• Organise your time – Identify your
best time of day, make lists, set
smaller, more achievable tasks,
Letters to the Editor
Send your club news, reports, events and
articles to News Desk, The Flyer, Flyer House,
Bridge Road, Felixstowe IP11 7SL or email
newsdesk@fl yeronline.co.uk
S J Peasey
Plumbing & Heating Services
We offer a full heating and plumbing service, including
boiler servicing and boiler upgrades to bathroom suites
and outside taps. Fully qualified and Gas Safe registered.
07923 610270
[email protected]
www.stuartpeaseyplumbing.co.uk
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TH E FLYER | A PR IL 2019
Pl ease menti on ‘The Fl yer’ when respondi ng to adv e rti s e me nts