Stress Awareness Month - April 2019
What is Stress?
Stress is how we feel when are under pressure. We have all felt stressed before, everyone’s experience of stress is different. Something that makes one person stressed might not affect you at all and vice versa.Common symptoms of stress include but are not exhaustive to;
- Headaches
- Agitation
- A busy or full mind
- Feeling ill
- Sleeplessness
- Lack of concentration
- Feeling tense
- Feeling Nauseous
- Skin conditions may develop or become worse, for example, Eczema or Psoriasis
What are the causes of stress?
Changes in your life may impact upon you, they may include, parental divorce or separation, illnesses, bereavement, breakdown in relationships, exams or coursework deadlines.
So how can I reduce my stress levels?
There are a number of ways you can reduce your stress levels, for example, take control of your time and plan when and what you will revise and how long each assignment will take to complete. Buy yourself a diary and plan your week, any free lessons you have, spend time in the library making sure you are on track to meet your deadlines.
Have a day off social media, screen time can be detrimental to us all, if we spend too much time on our screens, we become tired, have headaches and can become agitated. Taking a break and reconnecting with others or even just spending some time on our own can help to relieve stress. Go for a walk or a run, go on a bike ride. Take a bubble bath, read a book or play some music.
Take a break and spend time with friends and family, socialising with others can lift our spirits, if you have a good support network they can help you to work through the causes of stress and will be a good distraction from them.
Practice mindfulness or deep breathing, this will lower stress levels and help you to feel calm. Listen to relaxing music, visit You Tube for mindfulness music. Reducing stress is a working progress but you have to be willing to try different options to find which works for you.
