What is Stress Awareness Month?

Stress Awareness Month is an annual event that takes place in April. The purpose of Stress Awareness Month is to raise awareness about stress and how it can affect people's lives.
The first Stress Awareness Month was held in 1990 by the American Psychological Association (APA), who continue to sponsor the event each year.

The Causes of Stress

The causes of stress are many and varied. Some people may be able to reduce their stress levels by making changes in their physical environment, while others may need to make changes in their psychological environments.
In general, it is important to understand that there are many different types of stressors that can affect us all differently. The following list includes some common examples:

• Physical factors such as illness or injury

• Psychological factors such as depression or anxiety

• Psychosocial factors such as exclusion or prejudice

• Psychospiritual factors such as living outside of one’s own values and beliefs

Signs of Stress

Signs of stress can be physical, emotional and behavioural. The following are some common signs:

• Headaches

• Back pain

• Stomach aches or indigestion

• Fatigue or feeling run down all the time

• Increased irritability with others

• Low mood

• Overwhelm

• Breakdown

• Withdrawing from social activity

• Using alcohol or other substances

• Unhealthy attempts to assert control such as fixations with cleaning, exercise, or eating habits

The Effects of Stress

Stress can have a major impact on your health. It can lead to serious health consequences, such as mental health issues, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. In fact, stress has been linked to long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Stress also affects how you feel about yourself, i.e. if you're constantly worried about something or feel overwhelmed by life in general, it's likely that your self-esteem will suffer as well as you’ll feel you aren’t doing as well as you maybe should be, or you aren’t coping as well as other people etc.

Stress Management Techniques

Stress techniques can help you reduce stress and increase your well-being. Relaxation techniques, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes are all effective ways to manage your stress.

• Relaxation techniques: techniques such as meditation, mindfulness, or deep breathing help you relax by slowing down your heart rate and reducing muscle tension. These methods may also improve sleep quality, which can help prevent chronic diseases related to stress such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): CBT teaches people how their thoughts affect their feelings, physical symptoms, and behaviours so they can change unhelpful thinking patterns into more realistic ones that will lead them toward healthier choices in life.

• Lifestyle changes: Making small changes like eating healthier foods or getting more exercise can help relieve some of the physical effects of chronic stress on our bodies.

Tips for Reducing Stress

• Get enough sleep.

• Exercise regularly.

• Eat healthily.

• Engage in activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends or family, going for walks or hikes, playing games and sports with your children (or even by yourself), or taking up a new hobby like painting or knitting--whatever makes you happy.

How to Identify Your Stress Triggers

• Analysing your daily routine.

• Keeping a stress diary.

• Keeping a thought record.

• Becoming aware of behaviour patterns.

• Recognising when physical symptoms occur throughout the day.

How to Create a Stress-Free Environment

Of course it’s not always possible to reduce stress completely, we have our daily responsibilities and situations will occur that are beyond our control however, here are some steps you can take to create a more relaxed environment:

• Create a calming atmosphere. If you're prone to getting stressed out, try creating an area in your home where you can go when things get too much. It could be as simple as having a chair and lamp that are just for you, or it could be more elaborate - a meditation room with soft lighting and soothing music is another option! Whatever works best for you, make sure it has no distractions so that nothing will disturb your relaxation time.

• Set boundaries with others who cause stress in your life (including yourself). If someone tends to bring out the worst in you when they're around, then set some ground rules about how often you can see each other or talk on the phone so that both parties have time apart from each other when needed without feeling guilty about not spending enough time together overall.

• Keep it tidy. When our environment is organised, we feel more organised. It doesn’t have to be spotless, just tidy enough.

Resources for Stress Management

There are many resources available to help you manage your stress. You can find examples of self-help materials in our resources section. 

Therapy is also a good resource for talking through life’s stresses and management techniques.

Conclusion

Stress is a part of life. It's not something that you can avoid, but there are ways to manage it and reduce its impact on your well-being.
If you're feeling stressed, find some time for yourself. Take a walk or do yoga - you don't have to spend money on a gym membership or expensive classes when there are plenty of free resources online. And don't forget about the importance of getting enough sleep each night - if you're tired during the day, then it's harder for your body and mind to deal with stressors effectively. Our guide to insomnia is available in our premium resource section if you struggle with your sleep.