April is Stress Awareness Month and has been since 1992. It may surprise some that an entire month is dedicated to stress, especially those who might not see it as a pervasive or significant mental health issue. However, in our modern society, stress is considered to be an epidemic, leading to not only the degradation of wellbeing but also physical health.

Stress can affect individuals in a number of ways, leading to issues such as high blood pressure, depression, exhaustion, and addiction. Two years prior to the pandemic, 16% of adults claimed to have self-harmed due to stress, while 32% noted having felt suicidal as a result too. Stress-related health issues are believed to cost the economy over £8 billion each year. This estimate, it should once again be noted, was shared prior to 2020. 

It is important to note the date of these studies because, since 2020 and the international pandemic, the mental health landscape has changed substantially. Studies that have been released since then are already demonstrating that wellbeing has worsened across the UK and that the impact of stress is becoming more significant. In 2021, 7% of adults reported feeling stressed every single day, with one in five feeling stressed more often than they do not. An average adult in the UK experiences more than a week of stress each month.

This stress is caused by a number of issues but workplace stress remains the most common, with 79% of adults feeling work-related stress. In 2020, workplace stress reached a record high. Other causes of stress include finances, the news, social media, relationships, and sleep, with money and lack of sleep being the most common and affecting causes of stress in the UK. 

Every month, over 23,000 online searches occur from within the UK for ‘stress symptoms’. The mental health signifiers of stress that will appear in the results include irritability, anxiety, unhappiness, loneliness, loss of energy, anger, a racing mind, and even the exacerbation of existing mental health conditions. There are also physical signs too, which can include fatigue, panic attacks, sickness, constipation, sore eyes, chest pains, and high blood pressure. Additionally, there are also habits that can develop, such as the grinding of teeth during sleep, picking skin, and biting nails, potentially connected to high stress levels.

If left untreated, stress can not only worsen over time but so can the symptoms, leading to more severe disorders. Despite stress’ ubiquity, however, there remains a stigma around its effects, as well as discussing mental health in general, which prevents a number of people from seeking necessary support. This is why stress, as a matter of public health and wellbeing, deserves an entire month dedicated to its awareness because it remains critically overlooked when compared with its severe impact.

A number of initiatives occur during the month, all of which seek to bring about a greater awareness of stress and its impact. As an individual, alongside participating or supporting in these events, it can be remarkably valuable to simply initiate a conversation, bringing stress into a discussion. By doing so, you will directly help to reduce the stigma surrounding stress and mental health, making it easier for others to express their own experiences and even begin their journey to improved health.

If you are concerned about your own stress, as well as its impact on your mental health, and would like to discuss your experience in a safe and non-judgmental space, then our team of counsellors are available. Please reach out to us by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk or by calling us directly on 07751 271709.