Mental Health Awareness Week 14th-20th May

Hosted by the mental health foundation, this year for Mental Health Awareness Week we’re focusing on stress. Research has shown that two thirds of us experience mental health problems in our lifetimes, and stress is not a mental health problem itself. The stress response is a survival strategy to keep us safe. It was a vital adaption when looking to survive being eaten in the savannah.

Stress is a feeling of being under abnormal pressure. This pressure can from from different aspects of your day to day life. Such as an increased workload, a transitional period, an argument you have with your family or new and existing financial worries. You may find that is has a cumulative effect, with each stressor building on top of one another. During these situations you may feel threatened or upset and your body might create a stress response. This can cause a variety of physical symptoms, change the way you behave and lead you to experience more intense emotions. Stress affects us in a number of ways, both physically and emotionally and in varying intensities.

Chronic stress increases our risk of addictive and destructive behaviour, of developing anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. It can also increase risks of physical health problems including heart disease, insomnia, muscle pain and damages our immune system... the list goes on. Stress has also been linked to cancer.

Here are seven steps to help protect yourself from stress

1- Eat healthily

2- Be aware of smoking and drinking alcohol

3- Excercise

4- Take time out

5- Be mindful

6- Get some restful sleep

7- Don’t be too hard on yourself

Call into bispham road pharmacy to speak to our trained members of staff for any help or advice with stress!