International Stress Awareness Week 2023 is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about stress, its impact on mental and physical health, and the importance of stress management. Stress is a natural and inevitable part of life. It’s our body’s response to various challenges and demands that we might face from day to day. Stress can actually be beneficial, helping us to stay alert and respond to threats. However, when stress becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can have significant negative impacts on our physical and mental well-being. That’s why managing stress is crucial for leading a healthy, balanced life.
Sabrina Khan: Stress Awareness
Managing your stress levels
It is important to remember that managing stress levels is an ongoing process, and it may require a combination of strategies to be effective. Learning to recognize and address stressors in a healthy way is a crucial step toward maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. We are all different and there is no one fix to all our problems, however, there are different techniques that work for different people. Here are some of the basics that you can try:
Exercise
Engaging in regular physical activity can have a positive impact on your mental and emotional well-being by directly affecting your body’s response to stress. Exercise plays a major role in the state of your mental health. Feel-good hormones are released during physical activity, which improves self-esteem and gives you more energy. Doing anything physical, releases cortisol, which helps us manage stress. This can be used to relieve stress, anxiety or intrusive thoughts.
Have people around you
Stress can often be overwhelming, and having people around who care about you can provide emotional support. A close circle of friends is great for our well-being; it can give us a sense of belonging, help to create a support network and give us people to talk to and have fun with.
Take notes
When you are stressed, note-taking can provide structure and clarity to your thoughts, help you remember important information, and give you a sense of control in stressful situations. The most important step that you can take to improve your stress levels is to recognize what is causing you stress and face it head-on. Paying more attention to the present moment and living in it, can improve your mental well-being. Understanding your mind and body, and how it works can be extremely valuable.
Looking for support?
If you are seeking support for your mental health, it is often easier to speak to someone you don’t know, who specialises in this area. Today there are endless websites and organisations available that can provide you with the help and support you may need. Some of these include:
