Mental health matters as much as physical health. The World Health Organization describes it as a state of well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, and learn and work well.
How does stress show up?
The NHS groups the signs of stress into three areas:
- Emotional: feeling irritable, angry or tearful, worried, anxious or hopeless
- Physical: stomach problems, headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, nausea, skin reactions
- Behavioural: changes in eating and exercise, more substance use, withdrawing from people
Everyday ways to cope
- Break it down: split big tasks into smaller steps
- Plan ahead: organise your schedule to reduce uncertainty
- Move: regular exercise helps burn off nervous energy
- Gratitude: note three things you appreciate each day
- Talk: share with someone you trust or call a helpline
- Reframe: use cognitive behavioural techniques to look at a problem differently