Take a moment

The first Wednesday in November each year is National Stress Awareness Day.

We all know what it’s like to feel stressed - being under pressure is a normal part of life. But becoming overwhelmed by stress can lead to mental health problems and/or make existing problems worse.

National Stress Awareness Day is a great opportunity to take a moment to think about our wellbeing and find advice or support to help us better improve how we manage stress. If left unchecked, stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, emotional exhaustion and physical illness. This can affect our work, relationships, families, finances and every aspect of our lives.

• Talk to someone – Stress can cloud your judgement. By talking things over with a friend, colleague, or even a trained professional, you can help release built-up tension and find solutions
• Seek help with finances – Money problems and feeling anxious or depressed are linked, so it’s important to do whatever you can to make yourself feel better if you’re currently experiencing financial stress. Suffering alone adds to the pressure. Share the situation and seek professional financial help if required
• Socialise – Taking time to have conversations and spend time with family and friends can help us to relax, de-stress and improve our mood. This doesn’t have to be expensive and very often can include activities, which are either low cost or free of charge
• Exercise – Physical exercise can be a powerful tool in decreasing stress and maintaining a positive attitude to life
• Better sleep – A lack of sleep can be a significant cause of stress. Unfortunately, however, stress can also be a factor in preventing us from sleeping.

Help and resources

The First Class Support helpline is completely confidential, independent and available 24/7. Call now on 0345 266 5060 if you would like to talk to somebody about stress, or any other physical or mental health-related matter, including tips on living a healthier lifestyle.

There are resources to help you manage or prevent stress on our Feeling First Class site including the fully confidential Online Stress Tool. Visit www.feelingfirstclass.co.uk and use the organisational code FFC1 to register. A free app is also available via iTunes and the Google Play store.

For urgent support in a crisis: call the Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123, or in the case of a suicide or other emergency situation, ring 999, or 9999 from a Royal Mail landline.