National Stress Awareness Month 2024: what are the signs of stress and how can you seek help?
Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened and it usually happens when we are in a situation that we don’t feel we can manage or control.
Studies have found that almost three-quarters of UK adults have felt so stressed they cannot cope — and one in 14 feel stressed daily.
National Stress Awareness Month in April aims to raise awareness of how prevalent stress is in our daily lives and highlight how many people struggle.
Many stressors are in daily life, especially in the unprecedented times we live in, with the cost of living continuing to rise and people constantly working to make ends meet.
The month-long initiative has been held since 1992, meaning we’ve raised awareness about the impacts of stress for 32 years.
National Stress Awareness Month 2024, from April 1 until April 30, aims to highlight stressful experiences and raise stress management awareness.
Several organisations supporting people struggling with stress or mental health challenges will also mark the event.
So, what do you need to know about stress and stress awareness month?
What is stress?
Stress is a natural psychological and physiological response to demands or pressures from the environment. It's your body's reaction to a challenge or a threat.
While stress can sometimes be positive, motivating you to perform well under pressure, it can also become overwhelming when it exceeds your ability to cope.
Physiologically, when you perceive a threat or challenge, your body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which trigger the "fight or flight" response. This response prepares your body to confront the stressor or flee from it.
Chronic stress, however, can have detrimental effects on both your physical and mental health. It can lead to issues including anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive problems, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function.
Managing stress through healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and seeking support is crucial for maintaining overall well-being.
How do I know if I’m stressed?
Below are just some of the many signs and symptoms that are indicators that your body could be under too much pressure:
Psychological signs
Inability to concentrate or make simple decisions
Memory lapses
Becoming rather vague
Easily distracted
Less intuitive and creative
Undue worrying / racing thoughts
Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or unfocused
Depression and anxiety
Negative thinking
Insomnia or waking still tired
Prone to accidents
Emotional signs
Tearful
Irritable
Mood swings
Extra sensitive to criticism
Defensive
Feeling out of control
Lack of motivation
Angry
Frustrated
Lack of confidence
Lack of self-esteem
Physical signs
Aches/pains and muscle tension/grinding teeth
Frequent colds/infections
Allergies/rashes/skin irritations
Constipation/diarrhoea/IBS
Weight loss or gain
Indigestion/heartburn/ulcers
Hyperventilating/lump in the throat/pins and needles
Dizziness/palpitations
Nervousness or shaking uncontrollably
Panic attacks/nausea
Cold or sweaty hands and feet
Physical tiredness
Menstrual changes/loss of libido/sexual problems
Heart problems/high blood pressure
Behavioural signs
No time for relaxation or pleasurable activities
Prone to accidents, forgetfulness
Increased reliance on alcohol, smoking, caffeine, recreational or illegal drugs
Becoming a workaholic
Poor time management and/or poor standards of work
Absenteeism
Self-neglect/change in appearance
Social withdrawal
Relationship problems
Insomnia or waking tired
Aggressive/anger outbursts
Nervous
Uncharacteristically lying
If you notice these symptoms for a prolonged time or they worsen, make an appointment to see your GP or call NHS 111. If you live in England, you can also refer yourself for psychological therapy through the NHS IAPT service without seeing your GP.
How to get involved in National Stress Awareness Month 2024
You can get involved in Stress Awareness Month in several ways.
First, familiarise yourself with signs of stress and read up on how to manage stress.
You can also contact several leading organisations, such as Anxiety UK and Mind, trained to help you navigate stress. They may need some extra volunteers during April.
What is International Stress Awareness Week?
Alongside National Stress Awareness Month, there are also international awareness events.
International Stress Awareness Week was created in 2018 by the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) UK to raise awareness of stress prevention. ISMA is a registered charity that advocates good mental health, well-being, and performance.
Its purpose is to:
Raise the profile of stress-related issues, both in the home and workplace
Combat the stigma often associated with personal stress
Change attitudes towards the management of stress in the world of work
The ISMA has a register of professional practitioners and consultants who offer individual support, and coaching and training courses within the workplace, in various industries.
International Stress Awareness Week runs from November 5 to November 9, 2024.
You can find more information here.