Managing Stress
What is stress?
We all talk about stress, but what does it actually mean?
People use the term stress to describe the feeling they have
when it all seems too much, when they are overloaded and don't feel
that they are able to meet all the demands placed upon them.
That's not to say that a bit of pressure isn't good for you.
Some pressure is inevitable. But it's important to know the
difference between pressure and stress. Problems arise when the
pressure you're under is more than you are able to cope with.
Are you stressed?
If you think you might be experiencing stress ask yourself the
following questions:
- Are you angry and impatient with people close to you?
- Do you feel close to tears over small events?
- Are you behaving differently from usual?
- Do you feel isolated from people around you?
- Is your self-esteem at rock bottom?
Do you have any of these physical symptoms?
- Sleeplessness
- Loss of appetite or irregular eating
- Panic attacks and difficulty breathing
- Tight, knotty feelings in your stomach
- Low energy and lack of concentration
- Loss of interest in things around you
Karen explains how stressed she felt while waiting for her exam
results:
"I wasn't speaking to my parents; I had all
these powerful emotions inside of me that I couldn't bring myself
to talk to my friends about. I felt like I was being destroyed by
what was going on inside of me. I was just at the end of my line. I
didn't know where to go, what to do, I thought I'd gone insane, I
just wanted some peace. The only way I thought I could get it was
by topping myself. I was totally messed up, out of control. If I
hadn't rung Samaritans and got help I think I might have done the
most stupid thing that anyone could ever do."
Gary describes how talking to a Samaritans volunteer helped
him:
"I'd like to say how great Samaritans are. I
recently phoned them and the bloke I talked to was really calm and
friendly. He gave me the time that I needed to say difficult things
and he called me back so that the call wouldn't appear on the
itemised phone bill. No-one there could magically make my life
better and totally happy, but talking really did help. People
reading this who are depressed might not believe that; I know
because I was the same. But I'd like to say give it a try - it
can't make things worse can it? I also know that there will always
be someone at the end of the phone."
More information
What to do
if you are stressed
Manage your
stress in the workplace
Stress Down
Day, Samaritans' annual fundraising event