FEELING STRESSED
Text About It is a free and anonymous text support service for moments when you are feeling stressed and need support to get to a calmer place.
Text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation, any time - day or night.
What is STRESS?
Stress can be caused by situations or events that put pressure on us. For example, times where we have lots to do and think about, or don't have much control over what happens. It can also be our reaction to being placed under pressure – the feelings we get when we have demands placed on us that we find difficult to cope with. However, some people find their anxiety is more constant and is affecting their daily lives.
It is common to experience stress in our lives, and some degree of stress is a regular part of life, especially if we have a big event coming up or are going through a life change.
Some stress and pressure can even be a good thing, because it can motivate us to accomplish our goals or helps us notice when something isn’t right. But stress can also be upsetting, and it’s okay to need extra support, or to want to talk things through with someone when you’re feeling under pressure or overwhelmed.
However, if you’re feeling stressed a lot or all of the time, this could be a sign that the balance is off. In this case attention might be needed to understand what is causing the stress or get some support to manage our stress levels.
Signs of stress
When we are stressed, we can have both an emotional and physical response. Some of the signs can include:
Feeling tense or on edge
Feeling tired more than usual
Having trouble sleeping
Having trouble concentrating
Feeling easily irritated
Headaches
Shoulder, neck or back pain
Increased heart rate
Managing stress
Identify the stress in your life
There may be a number of reasons that you are feeling stressed, and it can be helpful to figure out what might be the major issue or issues causing you stress. Some areas to think about in your life might be work/education, family, relationships - are you taking on too much in any of these areas?
Is there a space for you to step back and take some time to yourself? Writing down how you are feeling might help you to identify what is causing these feelings and support you in looking after yourself.
Find a way to relax
When you are feeling stressed it can help to take some time to relax. Find a way to relax that works for you. For some people, it helps to take some slow, deep breaths. Others ground themselves by noticing things that are around them.
Another option is to listen to calming music or see if being outside in nature is soothing for you. Writing down or drawing what’s making you feel stressed can also help you to take a step back from worrying thoughts you may be having.
Talk to someone
Talking through the reasons that you feel stressed can bring relief. Sometimes when we have a lot going on or we have kept something to ourselves, situations can seem much bigger in our heads. Chatting to someone about how you feel can help put things in perspective and help you realise that you are not alone.
If you would like to talk to someone about how you are feeling you can text ‘HELLO’ to 50808 for free, anonymous support at any time of the day or night.