From October 30th to November 3rd, the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) will be hosting its annual Stress Awareness Week. Alongside a number of stress-related campaigns, the ISMA will be hosting an online Global Stress Summit aimed at discussing the rising issues surrounding stress and related concerns regarding physical and mental health.

Stress is the adverse reaction individuals experience during periods of excessive pressure. It is a common experience that many will experience in both minor and major ways. In both cases, stress causes mental tension, leading to the feeling of being overwhelmed or fraught with anxiety. If sustained over long periods of time, these experiences can lead to physical ailments and worsened mental conditions, which is why stress management is a major concern.

It may be of little surprise that the leading cause of stress among individuals in the UK is a professional occupation with 79% of the public saying they frequently felt some form of work-related stress. In such cases, professionals can see their productivity dissipate alongside a growing feeling of alienation from the workplace. Eventually, emotional responses to tasks and operations become more significant, with some experiencing aggression or increased sensitivity, while self-confidence begins to dramatically decrease.

Other common sources of stress include:

• Relationships, especially in cases involving separation and divorce
• Loss of a loved one
• Finances including increased financial obligations
• Illness or injury
• Traumatic events including those experienced indirectly, such as terrorist attacks and disasters

The experience of stress leads to a number of issues including substance abuse and addiction. 29% have stated that they began drinking or increased their current alcohol consumption due to stress, while 46% noted that their excessive and/or unhealthy eating was related to their experience of stress. There is a significant correlation between mental ill-health and stress with over half of adults who experience stress also feeling depressed and even more (61%) experiencing anxiety. Stress is also associated with the experience of self-harm and even suicide.

Since the pandemic, mental health has been at the forefront of many conversations and stress levels have, as culture and society have shifted, expectedly risen. It is understood that nearly three-quarters of all adults in the UK have, at some point over a twelve-month period, felt unable to cope or entirely overwhelmed. Additionally, younger generations are feeling far more stress than older generations, with 91% of Generation Z reporting feeling stressed at least once a month compared with only 55% of those from the Baby Boomer generation. 

While there are a number of potential factors that influence generations differently, with the experience of stress being associated with addiction, as well as worsened physical and mental health, this significant increase in the stress of younger generations could be cause for concern.

A part of the annual ISMA campaign is helping individuals to deal with stress. This can be done in a number of ways.

• Identify when stress occurs, recognising signs and symptoms, such as tension, fatigue, and headaches
• Spot the cause, adjusting your proximity to triggers as much as possible
• Improve diet, since food has a significant impact on how we feel
• Monitor smoking and drinking consumption
• Stay active, even taking a simple and regular stroll can help
• Sleep well, ensuring that you achieve a full and uninterrupted sleep

If you continue to struggle with your levels of stress, it may be time to speak to a professional. At Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, our counsellors are trained to support those experiencing stress, offering safe and non-judgemental spaces within which to begin aiding stress management and exploring pathways to better mental health. If you’d like to discuss how our services might help you or would like to book an initial consultation, please contact our team by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk. Or, alternatively, you can call us directly on 07751 271709.