In the UK, a significant portion of adults experience stress, with 86% feeling stressed at least once a month, and one in nine UK people reporting that they feel stressed everyday, according to a recent survey from OnePoll.
Work-related stress, depression, and anxiety are major contributors to lost working days. In 2023/24, an estimated 776,000 workers in Great Britain suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety. During the same period, 16.4 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the impact of stress on our mental and physical wellbeing. With the demands of daily life, it’s easy to overlook how stress can accumulate and affect our overall health.
This month serves as a reminder to acknowledge the pressures we face, and take proactive steps to help manage stress effectively. Whether it’s through self-care, mindfulness, or seeking support, understanding the signs and causes of stress is the first step toward leading a more balanced and healthier life.
What causes stress?
Stress can be caused by a variety of factors, often referred to as stressors. These can be physical, emotional, or environmental.
Common causes include:
- Work pressures: Deadlines, a heavy workload, workplace conflict and job insecurity
- Life changes: Major transitions, financial troubles and loss of loved ones, divorce and relationship break-ups
- Health issues: Chronic illness, injury or surgery, and mental health issues
- Social pressures: Family dynamics, peer pressure, and social media
- Lack of self-care: Poor sleep, poor nutrition and lack of exercise
Tips to help manage stress and promote mental wellbeing:
- Get active: Almost any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever. Exercise helps pump up your feel-good endorphins that boost your sense of well-being. This can improve your mood and help the day’s irritations fade away. So go on and take that walk or jog, work in your garden, clean your house, bike, swim, weight train, vacuum or do anything else that gets you active!
- Eat healthily: A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can improve your mood and energy levels. Avoid excessive caffeine or sugar, which can contribute to stress and anxiety.
- Practice mindfulness: Techniques, such as focusing on your breath or practicing deep breathing exercises, can help ground you in the present moment. Apps like Headspace or Calm can guide you in meditation.
- Spend time in nature: Disconnecting from screens and getting out in the fresh air can help reset your mind. Try going for a walk in a green space, spending time with animals or taking care of plants.
- Get enough sleep: Stress can cause your sleep to suffer, however sleep is the time when your brain and body recharge. Most adults need about 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. How well and how long you sleep can affect your mood, energy level, focus and overall functioning. If you have sleep issues, ensure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine. For example, listen to soothing music, make sure the area you sleep in is cool, dark and quiet, put phones and tablets away, and stick to a regular schedule.
- Be kinder to yourself: Learning to be kind to yourself can help with how you feel in different situations. Try to take breaks in your day for things you enjoy. Remember to reward yourself for your achievements, even if they seem small.
Mental Health Support
At Cinnamon Healthcare, our highly experienced GPs are trained to recognise and manage common mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression. They can offer support, referral for counselling or specialist input if required. If appropriate, they can prescribe medication for your mental health.
Get the help you need
At Cinnamon Healthcare, our experienced clinicians provide dedicated consultations to listen to your concerns and support you.
