7 Steps to Managing Stress: Step 2
Step 2: Weigh the Size of the Load Take an objective look at the stresses you face, and write them down if you can. Remember the small things too. Stress is cumulative, so the small things (the chores) count as well as the big ones (your job, your finances, and friendships). Beware of discounting the load in a way that many people do, thinking, for example, ‘everyone else copes with at least as...
Read More7 Steps to Managing Stress: Step 1
Over the next 7 days we’ll be looking at ways of identifying, acknowledging and managing stress in your life. We are going to begin by working through a four-step process to allow you to assess your current stress levels. Some level of stress can be a good thing, driving us towards our goals and fueling our motivation and drive. However, when we experience too much stress we can become...
Read MoreThe Psychological Cost of Recession and Recovery
There is growing evidence of the high psychological cost of recession, with many families facing an uncertain future due to unemployment, redundancy or reduced incomes. A recent survey by mental health charity Mind found that 10% of the 2000 people questioned had approached their GPs as a result of their economic circumstances, mainly suffering with depression. They found that men, in particular,...
Read MoreHow Stress and Anxiety Create Physical Symptoms
Stress and anxiety can trigger a range of physical symptoms, including diarrhea, gas, cramps, heartburn, bloating and nausea. The Sensitive Gut, a new report from Harvard Health Publications highlights the close link between stress and gastrointestinal symptoms in many people. Although it’s important to check any unusual or uncomfortable symptoms with your GP, the authors’ note that where...
Read MoreReducing Stress in the Workplace
Employers can do much to reduce stress levels in the workplace. A new study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that time off work due to stress has risen in the past year, and that this is a particular problem in the public sector. Public sector workers took on average 9.6 days off sick over the period, compared to less than 7 days for their private sector...
Read MoreDepression
Depression is an extremely common condition, yet it is largely hidden. While we might comfortably explain to our friends and employers that we have a physical illness, many people suffering from depression feel unable to discuss it openly. Statistics tell us that depression is one of the most significant psychological disorders in the western world. Its incidence is growing in all age groups and...
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