I am feeling stressed

Sometimes, we notice bodily changes that warn us of stress:

• Racing heartbeat
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Stomach upsets
• Muscular tension or pain
• Tiredness
• Feeling dizzy
• Sexual problems
• Shortness of breath
• Dry mouth

Stress exists on a continuum, and the terms “good stress” and “bad stress” are often used to describe its extremes. However, what one person considers eustress (good stress), another might experience as distress (bad stress).

Good Stress (Eustress):
Eustress is a positive form of stress that can be beneficial. It’s the kind of stress that is manageable and even motivating. Eustress is typically short-term and associated with situations you might perceive as offering opportunity, achievement or excitement.Eustress can help you focus, improve performance, and increase productivity. It is associated with feelings of enthusiasm and a sense of fulfilment.
Examples of eustress might include starting a new job, preparing for a rewarding but challenging task, or participating in a competitive sporting event. Although these situations involve stress, they can lead to positive outcomes.

Bad Stress (Distress):
Distress is a negative form of stress. Excessive or overwhelming stress can adversely affect your mental and physical health. Distress can be long-term and is frequently associated with anxiety, frustration and helplessness.
Distress can lead to heart disease, depression and anxiety disorders if it persists over long periods.
Examples of mentally and emotionally challenging situations that might cause distress include money worries, the breakdown of a relationship, work pressures or traumatic events.

Stress can come from anything that affects your daily life, work, or relationships. The things that cause stress vary from person to person. Sometimes, even minor problems can cause stress if they happen over time. Some people get more stressed by these things than others. It depends on factors like your personality, how you grew up, and your work and home life.

Stress can stem from various sources, including workplace demands, academic pressures, family responsibilities, illnesses, and unexpected life events. Some potential stress triggers include factors like our genetic predisposition, upbringing, and past experiences; personal challenges like relationship difficulties; significant life transitions like moving home, starting a family, or dealing with loss, financial concerns, housing instability, or employment issues; health-related problems affecting you or loved ones, the experiences of pregnancy and parenthood, as well as feelings of isolation or a lack of support.

Your comfort level with stress might be different from those around you. Stress usually arises when we believe we don’t have enough resources to handle the difficulties we encounter.

People from LGBTQIA+ or minority ethnic groups have a higher risk of stress because of the stigma and discrimination they might face. Even good things, like having a baby or getting married, can bring stress. It might be hard to understand why you’re stressed in these situations, and you might feel guilty or like you can’t talk to anyone about it, but it’s common to feel stressed in these situations.

Our partner, NHS Somerset, has many online resources that offer help and support. An excellent place to start is the NHS Somerset Self-Help Guides. These include workbooks on stress and related mood disorders like anxiety and depression.

The NHS has short videos and practical guides to self-help CBT techniques to help you deal with stress, work through problems and build resilience. Positive thinking can help relieve stress. The NHS suggests you take time each day to think about the good things in your life and list three small things for which you’re thankful.

Check out this video on social connection to see how talking with trusted friends, family, or colleagues can help us when we struggle with stress.

Taking practical steps can help us feel less stressed. If a task seems overwhelming, try breaking it down into small stages that are easier to manage. If you can, get active too—regular physical activity helps to burn off nervous energy and manage or reduce stress. You might start with Better Health: Home workout videos.