Lets talk about Stress

Stress Awareness Month is held every April to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Talk about stress and it’s effects, share your coping mechanisms and be nice to those who are stressed and anxious. The most crucial thing you can do when you are stressed or anxious is to make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Make time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you.

If you have recently experienced higher stress levels than usual – it is time you began looking after your mental health! A simple online tool provided by stress.org.uk can help you gauge your current stress levels. Here you will find something called “The Stress Management Society’s Individual Stress Test” – you will be asked a series of multiple choice lifestyle questions around common stressors. At the end of the test you will be given a score and a personalised report with recommendations that’ll help you manage stressful situations when those times come around.  Here are a few recommendations from our Pharmacists at Smarta Healthcare:

    • Adopt a positive mindset
    • Don’t be a slave to tech
    • Eat for wellbeing
    • Get a good nights sleep
    • Personalise your combative stress methods
    • Learn to say no
    • Time manage
    • Master your own time
    • Practice deep breathing
    • Prioritise your health
    • Stay hydrated
    • Recognise triggers

Jodhan Singh Pharmacist Lead at Smarta Healthcare said “Stress is primarily a physical response. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare the body for physical action. This causes a number of reactions, from blood being diverted to muscles to shutting down unnecessary bodily functions such as digestion.

In the modern world, the ‘fight or flight’ mode can still help us survive dangerous situations, such as reacting swiftly to a person running in front of our car by slamming on the brakes.

The challenge is when our body goes into a state of stress in inappropriate situations. When blood flow is going only to the most important muscles needed to fight or flee, brain function is minimised. This can lead to an inability to ‘think straight’; a state that is a great hindrance in both our work and home lives. If we are kept in a state of stress for long periods, it can be detrimental to our health.  The results of having elevated cortisol levels can be an increase in sugar and blood pressure levels.

If you suffer from anxiety, stress or other mental health conditions, we at Smarta are here to help”.

Call us on 01234 831 768 for a quick chat we can go into more detail regarding stress management. You are not alone!

 

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