According to the Mental Health Foundation, ‘74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope’.
Stress, if not managed properly, can seriously impact our health.
Low levels of stress are part of everyday life but the problem arises when we experience high levels of stress over a long period.
April is National Stress Awareness Month. According to the Mental Health Foundation, ‘74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope’.
As scary as those statistics are, we also know that if stress isn’t managed properly it can seriously impact our health.
Low levels of stress are part of everyday life. The problem arises when we experience high levels of stress over a long period.
Serious symptoms such as depression, mood swings, sleep problems, anxiety, lack of concentration and apathy in everyday tasks are just some ways prolonged stress affects our lives.
So, what can you do about it?
Common Signs of Stress
Stress can manifest itself in many different ways. Physically your heart might pound, you might feel breathless or a quickening of your breath, you might sweat or feel tense.
However, prolonged periods of stress can often lead to more serious symptoms, such as depression, mood swings, sleep problems, anxiety, lack of concentration or apathy in everyday tasks.
Not all stress is bad, right?
You know the drill. It’s Sunday evening, you’re lying in bed just about to nod off when, pop!, you’ve just joined the wide awake club.
Whether it’s work, family, financial or health worries, all these stressful thoughts can make it difficult to fall asleep, and even stay asleep!
If stress is really that bad for our sleep, what can we do to make it better?
