Stress

Stress can affect people in different ways.

In your body

• Headaches

• Tense muscles

• Tummy problems

• Feeling tired all the time

• Poor sleep

In your thoughts and feelings

• Feeling worried or on edge

• Feeling low or irritable

• Racing thoughts

• Finding it hard to relax

In your daily life

• Eating more or less than usual

• Smoking or drinking more

• Finding it hard to concentrate

• Snapping at people you care about

Long-term stress can:

• Affect sleep

• Make healthy choices harder

• Raise blood pressure

• Affect mood and energy

Small steps to manage stress can help protect both mental and physical health.

You do not need to do everything. Pick one thing to try.

Slow your breathing

Try this for 1 minute:

• Breathe in through your nose for 4
• Breathe out slowly through your mouth for 6

Move your body

Movement helps your body release stress. All of these activities count as movement, a few minutes is enough to help.

• Walking counts
• Stretching counts

Take short breaks

Let yourself take a moment when you need to:

• Stop for a moment
• Sit quietly
• Step outside for fresh air

Talk to someone

Talking can really help. You don't have to cope alone. You could talk to:

• A friend or family member
• Your GP practice
• A support service

Be kind to yourself

Stress is not a failure. Life can be hard, especially when money, family or work pressures are high.

Speak to your GP practice if:

• Stress is affecting daily life
• You feel low most days
• Worry feels constant
• You are not coping

Help is available.