Stress Support FAQs

Whether it is the incessant pinging of your phone, pressures at work or home, caring for a friend or relative, stress can take its toll both on our physical and mental health. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the focus has never been more acutely shone on the impact of isolation, loneliness, financial concerns, hidden abuse and health anxiety.

The first and most important thing to remember is that you are NOT alone. Stress and its accompanying symptoms, both physical and emotional, can impact anyone at any age and at any time in their life.

Sometimes the hardest, and possibly bravest thing you can do is to take that first step and reach out to ask for help. There are many support groups and charities who you can connect with who will be able to guide you as to the best possible resources for your needs. Click on this link for some useful guidance and first steps you can take:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/getting-help

If you are feeling stressed, the first step should be to approach your GP or local pharmacy.

Here are some links you may find useful:
The Samaritans:
https://www.samaritans.org

The NHS:
https://www.nhs.uk

Childline:
https://www.childline.org.uk

Youth Access:
https://www.youthaccess.org.uk/services/find-your-local-service

Young Minds:
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parents-helpline/

Rethink Mental Illness:
https://www.rethink.org/

Mind:
https://www.mind.org.uk/

During the Covid-19 pandemic many people have experienced strong emotions that they have found hard to reconcile with. This link provides practical guidance that you may find helpful: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/mental-health-tips

Practical steps:

If you feel that your current level of stress is manageable with some basic support, here are some tips that may be of assistance.

Sleep: Disturbed nights are a common sign of stress. Simple techniques such as avoiding use of devices for a couple of hours before bed can help, as can taking a bath, gentle exercise such a yoga or doing some simple breathing exercises. On occasion, short term use of an over the counter product can help restore the body's sleep pattern. If you are taking any medication, it is always prudent to consult your GP or local pharmacist before introducing new products that might impact upon their efficacy.
View our Insomnia support range.

Exercise: Although rigorous exercise before bed might not be restful, there is no doubt that incorporating a healthy exercise regime into your daily life can help alleviate symptoms of stress as well as helping to improve general fitness and well being. Walking with a friend and having a chat can help calm worries too. Why not make it a bit more fun by using a pedometer to monitor your progress?

Diet and lifestyle: What we eat and drink can have a huge impact upon our health and whilst changing diet doesn't rid us of stress as such, if we are feeling better physically, it can help us feel more able to address other areas in our life.

The old adage 'a healthy body is a healthy mind' is very true. Did you know that our gut is often referred to as our second brain. If we support the gut microbiome, we really can have an influence on our overall well being. Supplements containing beneficial bacteria (pro biotics) or those that support the gut flora (pre biotics) can help support a well balanced diet.

Trying to ensure a well balanced, healthy diet, reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake and drinking more water (the Eatwell Guide recommends 1.2 - 1.5 litres daily) are all helpful to optimise well being.

In conjunction, you may want to support your healthy lifestyle choices by taking a nutritional supplement. These are not a substitute for a good diet but can help to ensure we maintain an optimal nutrient intake to help our general health. If you are taking any prescription medication, please ask your GP or pharmacist to ensure there are no contraindications.

Smoking: It is often talked about and the smokers among us can feel rather brow beaten but in truth, we all know that smoking is detrimental to our health. Stress often leads to people falling back on pass times they find comforting and perhaps even increasing them. In the long term, smoking is potentially going to cause greater stress as it can lead to serious health conditions. Please view the Health effects of smoking

Do always feel welcome to talk with your GP or pop into your local pharmacy and you can find a way to help you quit. Just remember; take it one day at a time, celebrate the small victories and don't berate yourself. Just keep trying!

A final thought:

If we weren't already aware, the global pandemic has taught us that anyone can experience difficulties that impact upon their emotional well being. Even if you are not experiencing stress, bear in mind the fact that someone you know might be struggling. A friend, a family member, a colleague. Often people find it hard to open up as it makes them feel vulnerable so keep an eye on the people around you, you may just be able to make a difference to someone.