Feeling stressed?

Everyone goes through periods of feeling stressed. Sometimes stress is a good thing as it can provide a driving force to get things done on time. Too much stress can help us to recognise the need for a break. However, prolonged stress can have bad side effects.

It's important to know that everyone responds differently, and that sometimes stress can become a serious problem that needs help.

Everyone responds differently to stressful situations

We all experience stress for different things. Everyone has a different reaction to different things. It's all about how you react, and can be influenced by many things.

John might not be bothered by a heap of deadlines piling up, and just think that's OK. It'll all get done eventually.

Fred, on the other hand might feel really worried about the same heap of deadlines and think I'll never get through this mountain of work.

In a different situation John might become extremely stressed about a relationship problem while Fred is able to shrug it off as “one of those things".

How you react to stress can depend on many things, including:

• How anxious you feel generally,
• Whether you've experienced something similar before,
• How much you feel you can control what is happening,
• How long the situation has been going on for,
• How important the situation is to you,
• Whether you have mates and family around to help.

How do you know when stress is becoming a serious problem?

You know that stress is becoming harmful when it causes a feeling of distress and discomfort. It can change the way you feel, how you think, how you behave, or your physical wellbeing.

If you recognise some of these signs in yourself, on this site there are a number of ways you can get help now.

Signs of Stress