Listen to the Podcast about Stress
Stress means different things to different people. A situation, which is stimulating to one person, may be overwhelmingly stressful for another. Stress is a natural, human response but the degree of dis-stress is determined not just by events we experience but by how we perceive and respond to them. Whilst stress can help keep us motivated, a build up of stress can adversely affect our physical and mental well-being. The symptoms of stress include:
- Feeling anxious, irritable, tearful, angry, lonely, overwhelmed and fearful.
- Physically tired, lethargic, sweaty, breathless, tense, experiencing headaches, weight change.
- Acting irrationally, erratically (sleeping, eating), unable to manage time well, seeking 'comfort' habits.
Moving out of feeling stressed
Recognising that your stress level is unhealthy is an important first step. Making changes to your lifestyle can help manage stress, including ensuring you are taking care of yourself physically - incorporating healthy eating and sleeping patterns and taking exercise. Managing time effectively can reduce stress levels by setting targets that are realistic, prioritising clearly and rewarding a completed task. Challenge thinking patterns that induce stress - perhaps 'reframe' situations and reappraise situations. Maintain support networks and consider talking through your concerns. An effective way of managing stress is to undertake relaxation and breathing exercises (see relaxation).
The University Counselling Service is available for students and staff of the University of Warwick http://www.warwick.ac.uk/counselling
Medical support and information on medication can be obtained from your GP.
Article from the Boar on mental health and support http://theboar.org/2015/10/13/lets-talk-about-mental-health/
An interview with Head of Counselling at Bristol University giving top tips on managing stress
listen to a range of podcasts:
Change the way you feel by changing the way you think is a free E-book containing strategies and exercises to help change negative thought patterns and behaviour: https://www.crcpress.com/go/change_the_way_you_feel_by_changing_the_way_you_think_freebook?&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=161004547_1556941
Coventry and Warwickshire NHS trust has a number of self-help apps available to download http://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/dont_panic/pages/default.aspx
http://www.dwmh.nhs.uk/wellmind/ App for stress, anxiety and depression
A helpful graphic representation about stress: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I6402QJp52M
Self- help booklet on Stress https://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/
Full Catastrophe living: How to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation by John Kabat-Zinn: Practical step by step guide to mindfulness based stress reduction, written by one of the pioneers of the approach
|Available from the University Library:|
|How to identify stress, the impact it has on our bodies and develop a personal stress management plan||Looker and Gregson|
|Brief guide to stress management||Sharman|
|Practical guide. Includes sections on lifestyle, anxiety management and low mood||Martin Simmons, Peter Daw|
|Suggests ways of managing stress and includes self tests to measure stress levels||Mary Hartley|
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