What is stress?

Stress can occur when the demands put upon someone by certain situations or thoughts, can make them feel angry, frustrated or anxious. However, the things that cause stress can vary from person to person, and what is stressful to one person isn’t always stressful to another.

So stress is bad for you.

Not always. Stress is a normal part of life and small quantities of stress can motivate you and help you be more productive. It’s when there is too much stress or you've a strong reaction to stress, that it can be harmful to your health.

How do I know I’m stressed?

Everyone has different reactions to stress, however it is common to suffer from anxiety as well as a number of physical reactions. These physical reactions can include:

• Muscle tension, aches and pains.
• Sweating.
• Abdominal pain.
• A rapid or irregular heart beat.
• Nausea.
• Sleeping difficulties and nightmares.
• Irritability.
• Decreased concentration.
• A lack of sex drive.

What causes stress?

Stress is caused by a combination of external events (or the anticipation of them) and how we see our own ability to manage them. Sources of stress can vary from work-related performance, money worries or family problems to unemployment, moving house, bereavement and divorce. Alternatively, it can be a combination of minor problems, which all grow into one big problem.

What happens if my symptoms aren’t caused by stress?

If the root cause of your symptoms isn’t clear-cut, physical tests and investigations will be made in order to rule out any other possible reasons.

Does feeling stressed mean I can’t cope?

No, it just means you’re human. Because we’re all different, we all react in different ways to different situations. And admitting you feel stressed can go part way to helping you find a solution to it.

I think I’m stressed. What’s the next step?
This depends on your symptoms and how you react to stress. You may find that just addressing your problems and recognising them as the source of stress, will help you find ways of managing them. It can be a good idea to write down the things that worry you or make you feel miserable. Talking to other members of your family, friends or close members of your community, such as religious leaders, can also help. If you're still feeling very stressed, you should talk to your GP, who may be able to refer you for further support.

Will my GP give me medication?

Only a very small proportion of people will be prescribed medication for stress.