International Stress Awareness Week is between 30 October and 3 November. It is organized by the International Stress Management (ISMA) a UK charity. Midway through International Stress Awareness Week is International Stress Awareness Day on 1 November.

The theme for this year is Beyond Stress Management: From Stigma to Solutions. The aim of the campaign is:

to reach out and collaborate with individuals and organisations who are working to reduce the stigma associated with stress, and to support those who are working to shape and deliver solutions – solutions that will help to reduce the high incidence of stress and mental health-related issues in our society today. 

What is Stress?

Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause stress. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected or that threatens our sense of self, or when we feel we have little control over a situation.

We experience stress both psychologically and physiologically. Learning how to effectively manage stress can have a positive impact on our wellbeing. Below are some ideas that you could try to help you manage stress.

1. Exercise
2. Relaxation Techniques
3. Healthy Diet
4. Time Management
5. Have interests and hobbies  
6. Maintain relationships
7. Limit the use of your phone and news consumption

Below are links to other blogs on this website that will give you detailed ideas about how you can introduce these techniques into your life. It may feel overwhelming to try them all at once, so perhaps just pick one idea and commit to consistently practicing it. Try to notice over a few weeks whether it has a positive impact on your stress levels. If you find it doesn’t work, pick another.

• Exercise and Mental Health – Developing a Practice
• Walking for Mental Health
• Movement to improve your health
• Hobbies and Mental Health
• Gardening for Better Mental Health
• 3 Tips for Better Time Management
• Mindfulness for Anxiety
• Water and Mental Health
• Managing Loneliness
• Addiction to your Phone
• Is an Instant World Bad for your Mental Health
• Stress Awareness Month April 2023
• Stress Awareness Month April 2022
• Stress at Christmas – 3 tips to manage the festive season

Stress can occur in all aspects of our life, our work, family, relationships and health. Stress is a normal part of life and at times it can have a positive impact on us, it can boost our performance and help us meet our goals and it can motivate us to make changes. However, if you begin to feel overwhelmed by stress or it continues for a long period of time, it can become problematic and harmful to your health. If you feel that your feelings of being stressed are heading that way, it might be time to speak to a professional.

Paul offers Psychotherapy and counselling, EMDR and Clinical Supervision. If you are struggling with any issue and would like to make an appointment with Paul please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can. For more information about Paul please take a look at the About Paul Page, Frequently Asked Questions Page and The Counselling Services Page.