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Stress

Stress

Stress is a normal, natural response to a pressurised situation.

A small amount of stress can be motivating, but a prolonged amount can be damaging to both physical, psychological, and emotional health.

Different people react differently to stress. There are some who can deal with large amounts and some who find it hard to cope with very small amounts of stress; some may feel motivated while others feel overwhelmed. Some might consider it healthy and a useful driver to fix and sort out certain situations in their lives, while others might find it brings their lives to a standstill.

Some stressful situations arise when we feel we have a lack of control in our lives or experience a major life change. Sometimes stress can be the result of the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Whatever the cause of the stress, the long-term effects can be detrimental to your health, your emotions, and your overall wellbeing.

Whatever the cause of the stress, when it begins to affect your life in a detrimental way, it is time to seek help, as prolonged exposure to stress can lead to other mental health issues.

Causes can include:

  • Marriage
  • Baby
  • New job
  • Divorce
  • Bereavement
  • Moving house
  • Problems at work
  • Problems within a relationship
  • Finances

Symptoms can include:

  • Anger
  • Agitation
  • Crying
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Low self-esteem
  • Avoiding friends/social situations
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Excessive alcohol or drug use
  • Chest pains/palpitations
  • Dizziness

If your stress is becoming overwhelming or affecting your life in a detrimental way, you may find it helpful to meet with your GP or a trained counsellor or therapist.

More info

Useful Articles

Here is a list of articles on stress that you might find helpful.

TED Talk: Kelly McGonigal: How to make Stress your friend 
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken, and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.

His Stress is not Her Stress 
Scientists have long known that women are more likely than men to suffer depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other anxiety disorders, all of which have been linked to chronic stress, says Temple University psychologist Debra Bangasser. But until recently, studies of people’s responses to such stress have focused primarily on men.

Is there too much stress on stress? 
About 10 million working days a year are lost to stress. In our age of austerity, zero-hours working, and weakened unions, has stress – a term only invented in the 1950s – become a shorthand for more complex problems?

Stress: its surprising health implications 
Whether it is down to work pressure, money worries, or relationship troubles, most of us experience stress at some point in our lives. In fact, around 75% of us report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress over the past month. It is well known that stress can cause sleep problems, and headaches and raise the risk of depression. But in this Spotlight, we look at some of the more surprising ways in which stress may harm our health.

Recommended Reading

When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection - Gabor Mate
The bestselling exploration of the effects of the mind–body connection on stress and disease.

The Life Changing Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Sarah Knight
This irreverent and practical book explains how to rid yourself of unwanted obligations, shame, and guilt - and give your f**ks instead to people and things that make you happy.

Poems and Quotes to Inspire You

Dare we hope? We dare.
Can we hope? We can.
Should we hope? We must, because to do otherwise is to waste the most precious of gifts given so freely by God to all of us.  So when we do die, it will be with hope and it will be easy and our hearts will not be broken.

Andy Ripley – England and Lions rugby legend, often described as one of the most colourful personalities in the history of English rugby

Charities and support groups

Charities and support groups

Below you will find a comprehensive list of charities and support groups that offer help and assistance to anyone who is struggling with this mental health issue

Childline

The UK’s free and confidential helpline is not just for children, it provides help for young people of all ages who are in distress or danger.  Counsellors provide advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day. 

You can get help and advice about a wide range of issues, including violence and abuse in your relationship on the Childline website.  You can also talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post on the message boards.

Whatever your worry, it’s better out than in.

ChildLine has launched an app called Zipit. It helps you get flirty chat back on the right track. It's packed with killer comebacks and top tips to help you stay in control of your chat game. Find out more: childline.org.uk/zipit

Helpline: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk

Mind - For Better Mental Health

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.  We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

http://www.mind.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

SANE

SANE services provide practical help, emotional support and specialist information to individuals affected by mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.

http://www.sane.org.uk/
Helpline 0845 767 8000

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army works closely with addiction referral services as well as providing specialist detox centres in the UK. This is complemented by rehabilitation and support programmes.

http://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/addiction-support

Get Connected

Get Connected is the UK's free, confidential helpline service for young people under 25 who need help, but don't know where to turn.

Helpline: 0808 808 4994
Open from 11am - 11pm every day
http://www.getconnected.org.uk/

Counselling Directory

Counselling Directory aims to be the leading service for providing counselling advice and information - connecting those in distress with the largest support network in the UK.

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

Papyrus UK

Suicide prevention for young people up to the age of 35

https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Helpline: 0800 068 41 41
Monday - Friday 10am – 5pm & 7pm – 10pm, Weekends 2pm – 5pm 

Text: 07786 209697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

 

Barnardos

Barnardo’s believes in children regardless of their circumstances, gender, race, disability or behaviour. Our purpose as a charity today is to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children. We believe in the abused, the most vulnerable, the forgotten and the neglected. We will support them, stand up for them and bring out the best in each and every child.

www.barnardos.org.uk

Have I got a Problem?

HaveiGotAproblem.com is a free online resource to help you understand issues or concerns you may have about mental health or addiction issues.

This site was created to give the public information to help them understand mental health and addiction issues and to assist people in making better informed decisions about their life and personal choices.

 

http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/

 

International Stress Management Association

The International Stress Management Association[UK] ISMAUK is a registered charity and the lead professional body for workplace and personal Stress Management, Wellbeing and Performance. We promote sound knowledge and best practice, nationally and internationally.

Our activities include Stress Management training accreditation, national and regional events plus CPD for members including professional updates. Our charitable work also encompasses the promotion and organisation of National Stress Awareness Day that has been held every year in November, for the last 18 years

http://www.isma.org.uk/

HHUGS

Helping Households Under Great Stress (HHUGS) is the only UK registered charity, providing protection, empowerment and support to Muslim households harmfully affected by counter-terrorism and national security legislation in the UK and abroad.

http://www.hhugs.org.uk/

PTSD UK

Our mission is to provide support and information for anyone experiencing PTSD. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding of the condition and treatments available.

http://www.ptsduk.org/

Combat Stress

Our Mission is to provide timely, effective clinical treatment and welfare support to Veterans who suffer from psychological wounds.

Helpline: 0800 138 1619
http://www.combatstress.org.uk/

 

Help for Heroes

Our psychological wellbeing service, H4H Hidden Wounds, can help Veterans and Armed Forces families living with anxiety, depression, stress, anger or alcohol. It is here to help you find ways of dealing with frustration and to help you start enjoying everyday life again. Free and confidential support is delivered by our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) by phone, Skype or face to face.

http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/hidden-wounds/

No Panic

Aims are to aid the relief and rehabilitation of those people suffering from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, and other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser and Drug Withdrawal, and to provide support to sufferers and their families and/or carers.

 

www.nopanic.org.uk
Helpline 0800 138 8889

Young Minds

Charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

www.youngminds.org.uk
Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4pm

Support Line

SupportLine provides a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. The Helpline is primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. It is particularly aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. SupportLine is a member of the Helplines Association. SupportLine also provides support by email and post.

http://www.supportline.org.uk
Helpline: 01708 765 200

Student Minds

Student Minds is the UK's student mental health charity. We believe that peer support can change the state of student mental health. Our vision is for students to take action to foster an environment where everyone has the confidence to talk and listen to each other, the skills to support one another and the knowledge to look after their own mental health.

Helpline: 08444 775 774 Mon-Fri 9:30am - 5.30pm (calls subject to charge)
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/anxiety-disorders.html

Samaritans

The Samaritans provide 24 hour, confidential, emotional support for anyone in crisis.

http://www.samaritans.org/
Helpline 116 123, this number is FREE to call
Email jo@samaritans.org

Elefriends (run by Mind)

Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. 

We all know what it's like to struggle sometimes, and this is a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Whether you're feeling good right now, or really low, it's a safe place to share experiences and listen to others. 

Shared experiences and perspectives are valuable and powerful. In this way Elefriends don't just get help, they give help too. In the good times and the bad.

www.elefriends.org.uk

Off The Record

We believe that young people need places to go which are easy to access, where you are treated with respect, and where you can get support and information to help you make your own life choices. Our services are friendly and welcoming – about 1,000 new young people visit us every year. Available in the Richmond borough.

http://otrtwickenham.com/

Time to Change

Our aim is to start a conversation… or hopefully thousands of conversations.

We want to empower people with mental health problems to feel confident talking about the issue without facing discrimination. And we want the three quarters of the population who know someone with a mental health problem to talk about it too.

http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Rethink

Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.

http://www.rethink.org/
Helpline 0300 5000 927 Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm

Family Lives

Offers support to anyone parenting or helping to raise children, from newborn babies to young adults. There are free telephone and email helplines, parenting courses and information leaflets. The website offers lots of advice, real-life stories and relevant news as well as a helpful A-Z of related topics.

http://www.familylives.org.uk/
Helpline: 0800 800 2222 (9am – 9pm, Monday to Friday;10am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday)

 

Anxiety UK

Provides support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Helpline: 08444 775 774 (Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm)

The Calm Zone

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY, or CALM, is a registered charity, which exists to prevent male suicide in the UK.

We seek to prevent male suicide by:-

·         Offering support to men in the UK, of any age, who are down or in crisis via our helpline and website.

·         Challenging a culture that prevents men seeking help when they need it, see www.yearofthemale.com

·         Pushing for changes in policy and practice so that suicide is better prevented via partnerships such as The Alliance of Suicide Prevention Charities (TASC), the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) .  CALM also hosts the Suicide Bereavement Support Partnership (SBSP), which includes Cruse, If U Care Share, Papyrus, SoBS and the Samaritans amongst others. This partnership aims to ensure that everyone bereaved or affected by suicide is offered and receives timely and appropriate support. Its members are working collaboratively to ensure this vision becomes a reality.

www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/anger/
Helpline: Nationwide: 0800 58 58 58; London: 0808 802 58 58 (365 days 5 pm – midnight)

 

Talking 2 Minds

Talking2Minds was established in 2008 with the sole purpose of helping those suffering from PTSD or other severe stress related conditions. Initially, we offered help exclusively to military sufferers. However, as word of our success spread, we found others coming to us from all sectors of society including the “blue light” services and those who had suffered trauma through abuse and horrific accidents.

http://www.talking2minds.co.uk/

 

PTSD Resolution

PTSD Resolution is a charity (No. 1133188) that helps Veterans, TA and Reservists who are struggling to reintegrate into a normal work & family life because of military trauma suffered during service in the armed forces.

http://www.ptsdresolution.org/

The Mix

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via online, social or our free, confidential helpline.

http://www.themix.org.uk/
Freephone 0808 808 4994
 

BACP

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is the professional association for members of the counselling professions in the UK.

https://www.bacp.co.uk

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