Category: Stress

Stress can come in many different forms and is sometimes hidden and difficult to identify. A lot of working days are lost each year with stress.

It is important to know how to manage it, whether it is due to work or something that is occurring outside the workplace not recognising or managing stress may result in you becoming ill, either physically, mentally or both. Your employer has a duty in respect to your health, you must tell your supervisor if you are suffering,  even if it is related to a situation outside your work.

The charity MIND offers some good advice on stress and stress management.

We all sometimes talk about it and feeling stressed, sometimes due to people making unreasonable demands, or because we feel that we have no control over situations that we are dealing with. Often it is because we have too much to do and too much to think about and are struggling to juggle with the many things we are expected to deal with.

It is not a medical diagnosis, but when we have severe stress that continues for a long time it could result in a diagnosis of depression or anxiety, or more severe mental health problems.

Identifying the things that cause it and learning how to handle them better can reduce the effects. Relaxation techniques and other Lifestyle changes can also help.

Change and a lack of control over what is happening are recognised as situations which can cause a high level. Bereavement or serious illness in yourself or someone close can be seriously stressful, but stressful situations are not always sad or bad events, sometimes happy events can cause stress because they bring change or make demands on you, for example moving house, getting married, having a baby.

It can also occur due to long-term difficult circumstances, such as unemployment, poverty, caring for a disabled family member or friend or difficulties at work