Get help with stress - NHS

Symptoms of stress ; Physical symptoms. headaches or dizziness; muscle tension or pain ; Mental symptoms. difficulty concentrating; struggling to make decisions ... Skiptomaincontent Home Mentalhealth Feelings,symptomsandbehaviours Feelingsandsymptoms Backto Feelingsandsymptoms Stress Mostpeoplefeelstressedsometimesandsomepeoplefindstresshelpfulorevenmotivating.Butifstressisaffectingyourlife,therearethingsyoucantrythatmayhelp.Supportisalsoavailableifyou'refindingithardtocopewithstress. Information: CoronavirusadviceGetadviceaboutcoronavirusandlookingafteryourmentalwellbeing:EveryMindMatters:howtolookafteryourmentalwellbeingwhilestayingathomeMind:Coronavirusandyourwellbeing SymptomsofstressStresscancausemanydifferentsymptoms.Itmightaffecthowyoufeelphysically,mentallyandalsohowyoubehave.It'snotalwayseasytorecognisewhenstressisthereasonyou'refeelingoractingdifferently. Physicalsymptoms headachesordizzinessmuscletensionorpainstomachproblemschestpainorafasterheartbeatsexualproblems Mentalsymptoms difficultyconcentratingstrugglingtomakedecisionsfeelingoverwhelmedconstantlyworryingbeingforgetful Changesinbehaviour beingirritableandsnappysleepingtoomuchortoolittleeatingtoomuchortoolittleavoidingcertainplacesorpeopledrinkingorsmokingmore Information: Ifyou'renotsurehowyoufeel,tryourmoodself-assessment. Thingsyoucantrytohelpwithstress Do trytalkingaboutyourfeelingstoafriend,familymemberorhealthprofessional.YoucouldalsocontactSamaritans,call:116123oremail:[email protected] findoutmoreabout10stressbusters–includinggettingstartedwithexerciseandsettingasidetimeforyourself useeasytime-managementtechniquestohelpyoutakecontrol usecalmingbreathingexercises planaheadforstressfuldaysorevents–planninglongjourneysormakingalistofthingstoremembercanreallyhelp considerpeersupport,wherepeopleusetheirexperiencestohelpeachother.FindoutmoreaboutpeersupportontheMindwebsite listentofreementalwellbeingaudioguides Don’t donottrytodoeverythingatonce–setsmalltargetsyoucaneasilyachieve donotfocusonthethingsyoucannotchange–focusyourtimeandenergyintohelpingyourselffeelbetter trynottotellyourselfthatyou'realone–mostpeoplefeelstressedatsomepointintheirlifeandsupportisavailable trynottousealcohol,cigarettes,gamblingordrugstorelievestress–thesecanallcontributetopoormentalhealth Information: FurtherinformationandsupportThementalhealthcharityMindoffersmoreinformationon:dealingwithpressuredevelopingemotionalresiliencetohelpyouadaptandbouncebackduringdifficulttimesYourMindPlanontheEveryMindMatterswebsitesendspersonalisedtipsandadvicetoyouremailinbox. WheretogetNHShelpforstressReferringyourselffortherapyIfyouneedmoresupport,youcangetfreepsychologicaltherapieslikecognitivebehaviouraltherapy(CBT)ontheNHS.YoucanreferyourselfdirectlytoanNHSpsychologicaltherapiesservice(IAPT)withoutareferralfromaGP. FindanNHSpsychologicaltherapiesservice(IAPT) Non-urgentadvice:SeeaGPif: you'restrugglingtocopewithstressthingsyou'retryingyourselfarenothelpingyouwouldprefertogetareferralfromaGP Information: Coronavirus(COVID-19)update:howtocontactaGPIt'sstillimportanttogethelpfromaGPifyouneedit.TocontactyourGPsurgery:visittheirwebsiteusetheNHSAppcallthemFindoutaboutusingtheNHSduringCOVID-19 Urgentadvice:Call111oraskforanurgentGPappointmentif: youneedhelpurgently,butit'snotanemergency111cantellyoutherightplacetogethelpifyouneedtoseesomeone.Goto111.nhs.ukorcall:111. Immediateactionrequired:Call999orgotoA&Enowif: youorsomeoneyouknowneedsimmediatehelpyouhaveseriouslyharmedyourself–forexample,bytakingadrugoverdoseAmentalhealthemergencyshouldbetakenasseriouslyasamedicalemergency.FindyournearestA&E CausesofstressStressisusuallyareactiontomentaloremotionalpressure.It'softenrelatedtofeelinglikeyou'relosingcontroloversomething,butsometimesthere'snoobviouscause.Whenyou'refeelinganxiousorscared,yourbodyreleasesstresshormonessuchasadrenalineandcortisol.Thiscanbehelpfulforsomepeopleandstressmighthelpyougetthingsdoneorfeelmoremotivated.Butitmightalsocausephysicalsymptomssuchasafasterheartbeatorsweating.Ifyou'restressedallthetimeitcanbecomeaproblem.IdentifyingthecauseIfyouknowwhat'scausingyourstressitmightbeeasiertofindwaystomanageit.Someexamplesofthingsthatmaycausestressinclude:work–feelingpressureatwork,unemploymentorretirementfamily–relationshipdifficulties,divorceorcaringforsomeonefinancialproblems–unexpectedbillsorborrowingmoneyhealth–illness,injuryorlosingsomeone(bereavement)Evensignificantlifeeventssuchasbuyingahouse,havingababyorplanningaweddingcouldleadtofeelingsofstress.Youmightfindithardtoexplaintopeoplewhyyoufeelthisway,buttalkingtosomeonecouldhelpyoufindasolution.Findoutaboutthe5stepstomentalwellbeing. Morein Feelingsandsymptoms Stress Anxiety,fearandpanic Lowmood,sadnessanddepression Feelinglonely Griefafterbereavementorloss Anger Lonelinessinolderpeople Signsofananxietydisorder Hallucinationsandhearingvoices Pagelastreviewed:15October2019 Nextreviewdue:15October2022