Stress Facts

Everyone feels stressed at times.

Stress can be entirely normal, but sometimes stress can get too much and can even trigger a mental illness. 

 

Sometimes people try to ‘block out’ stress by using drugs or alcohol. This makes things worse in the long run. It is important to get help if stress is getting too much or you are using drugs or alcohol to try and cope.

 

Stress can affect different people in different ways.

 

Effects on your body:

• feeling tired

• having difficulty sleeping

• going off your food

• stomach aches

• headaches

• aches and pains in your neck and shoulders.

 

Effects on your feelings:

• feeling sad

• losing your temper easily

• finding it hard to keep your mind on College work.

 

Methods to cope with stress?

There are several things that you can do to help yourself cope. Don’t suffer in silence! 

 

1. Talk About It

Feeling alone makes stress harder to deal with.Talking to somebody you trust can really help you to deal with stress and to work out how to tackle the problems that are causing it.​

 

 

2. The List Method 

• Make a list of all the things in your life that are making you feel stressed– write them down on a piece of paper.

• Then take each one in turn and list all the things you could do to tackle it.

• This can help you sort things out in your head. Problems look easier to deal with one at a time than in a big jumble in your head!

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3. Learn to Relax

• Take a break - do something that you really enjoy.

• Do something relaxing, for example take a hot bath or watch a film.

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​4. Do Some Exercise

• Exercise produces chemicals in your body called ‘endorphins’ which make you feel good!

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