The current climate in our society is one that presents us with a multitude of stresses. The need to juggle so many priorities means that we can often forget to think about our own wellbeing. Research conducted by Lifeline Australia* found the 91% of Australians experience stress in their life due to pressures relating to work, family, their future, health and financial pressures.*Newspoll 2008
The impact stress has on mental and physical health
Stress is the body’s way of dealing with pressure. Stress can be a positive thing, helping us strive for results during competitive or demanding situations. However prolonged, chronic stress can be detrimental to our physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Stress may impact you in one or more of the following ways in varying degrees;
- Erratic or uncharacteristic mood swings or personality changes
- Unusual sleeping patterns – feeling tired all the time or not getting enough sleep
- Nervous habits or compulsive behaviours
- Changes in appetite and diet – loss off appetite or eating more frequently or more unhealthily
- Dependence on alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism
- Loss of interest in activities such as hobbies, work or socialising
- Experiencing panic or anxiety and a sense of not coping
- Physical affects such as increased blood pressure, headaches, or exhaustion
- Affects on mental health – feeling down or depressed most of the time
If you experience prolonged stress with one or more of the above symptoms it may be time to seek help.
Simple tips for coping with stress
- Talk to someone you trust and share your feelings
- Take time to look after yourself physically with exercise, a balanced diet and health checks
- Allocate time for thing you enjoy and that make you happy
- Don’t place unnecessary pressure or expectations on yourself
- Make time for friends and family amid other priorities
- Limit alcohol intake and use of other substances
- If you feel your stress levels peaking take a few minutes of time out
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Plan ahead to manage situations that you know are going to be stressful
- “Opt in” to positive activities, rather than “opting out” or avoiding life’s challenges.
Additional Stress Resources
For more detailed and comprehensive information about identifying and managing everyday stress download Lifeline's Information Service Overcoming Stress Tool kit or Coping with Stress fact sheet below.
(PDF 716.60KB) You are welcome to download and reproduce this tool kit without alteration.
(PDF 127KB) You are welcome to download and reproduce this fact sheet without alteration.
- The Stress Managment Guide provides you with information about how to reduce, prevent, and Cope with Stress.
- These stress management tools may help you come to a clearer understanding of stress and the importance of managing it.
- Job-related stress resources provide self-help and support tools to overcome stress in a range of job-related situations.
- Dealing with financial stress- 6 tips for dealing with debt provides some useful advice about how to deal with debt and plan for a less stressful future with your finances.
General health and wellbeing resources
- Helpguide.org articles are written by experts and provide you with information on mental and emotional health, family and relationships, and healthy living. This information is provided by Helpguide with the aim of empowering you to understand, prevent and resolve life’s challenges.
- The Emotional Health Guide provides information about improving your emotional health- with ideas about how you can boost your mood, build resilience, and get more enjoyment out of life.
- Emotional Intelligence Central provides articles, videos, and video lesson guides on a number of key emotional intelligence tools. Reading the articles will help you understand emotional intelligence, and videos demonstrate how to incorporate the principles into real-life practice.
- The Happiness Institute has developed and selected a range of free ‘happiness’ resources. The resources provide advice about how to focus on the positive in life, and include resources such as a daily happiness checklist, a weekly happiness action plan, and a guide to utilising your strengths.
- The Mind Tools website provides information and tools to help your problem solving, decision making, stress management, and communication skills.
- Living Well Feeling Well is an internet-based program that is a convenient and motivating way to learn skills to improve your mental and physical wellbeing and to cope with challenging situations.
- 6 Ways To Be A Good Friend provides an overview of the health benefits of friendship and a strong support network, and tips on how to be a good friend.
- MindBodyLife provides information on ways to enhance physical wellbeing and nutrition.
Where to go for more help
If you need to speak to someone about stress you can contact Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. You’ll also find helpful resources and information about mental health and stress at lifeline.org.au
