I’m a mental health guru – here’s 4 simple steps to banish stress now
TOTALLY wired and feeling the strain?
According to our poll, stress most affects younger readers and women, while 41 per cent of parents with children under 18 have high stress levels – but none of us are immune.
Jessica says: “Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened.
“Sometimes, a small amount of stress can help us to complete tasks and feel more energised.
“But stress can become a problem when it lasts for a long time or is very intense.”
Having a physical or mental health condition, or experiencing discrimination, can make stress levels worse, and high stress can contribute to heart disease, heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure.
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What can you do?
SOME causes of stress are genuinely beyond our control.
Jessica says: “This makes dealing with stress very personal – it may be harder for some of us than for others.”
However, small changes can help you get through stressful situations more easily. Jessica explains:
FIND YOUR PEOPLE: Speak to friends or family, or seek support at work or college.
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Explore peer support, like Mind’s Side by Side community, which involves speaking to people with similar feelings or experiences.
TRIGGER HAPPY: Working out what may trigger stress can help you prepare for it.
Even if you can’t avoid these situations, being ready to face them can help.
TIME IT: Identify when you have the most energy, and do your most important tasks around that time of day to help you concentrate better.
Set smaller, achievable targets, and focus on the most urgent things you need to do.
Be clear with others about what you can and can’t take on.
STAND UP: Stress can be made worse by problems in your community, such as lack of access to services.
Taking action may help how you are feeling.
Visit Mind’s campaigns page () or explore community groups in your area, like the Do IT website (), to find out ways to use your voice for change.