How to Manage Stress and Improve Your Mental Health

What is Stress?

Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation that we don't feel we can manage or control.

When we experience stress, it can be as:

• An individual, for example when you have lots of responsibilities that you are struggling to manage.

• Part of a group, for example if your family is going through a difficult time, such as bereavement or financial problems.

• A member of society, for example during natural disasters or events like the coronavirus pandemic.

  
  

When is Stress a Problem?

Sometimes, a small amount of stress can help us to complete tasks and feel more energised. But stress can become a problem when it lasts for a long time or is very intense. In some cases, stress can affect our physical and mental health.

You might hear healthcare professionals refer to some types of stress as 'acute' or 'chronic':

• Acute stress happens within a few minutes to a few hours of an event. It lasts for a short period of time, usually less than a few weeks, and is very intense. It can happen after an upsetting or unexpected event. For example, this could be a sudden bereavement, assault or natural disaster.

  
  

• Chronic stress lasts for a long period of time or keeps coming back. You might experience this if you are under lots of pressure a lot of the time. You might also feel chronic stress if your day-to-day life is difficult, for example if you are a carer or if you live in poverty.

  
  

Is stress a mental health problem?

Stress is not normally considered a mental health problem. But it is connected to our mental health in several ways:

• Stress can cause mental health problems. And it can make existing problems worse. For example, if you experience lots of stress, this might lead you to develop a mental health problem like anxiety or depression. 

  
  

• Mental health problems can cause stress. You might find coping with the day-to-day symptoms of your mental health problem is stressful. 

  
  

You might use recreational drugs or alcohol to cope with stress. This could also affect your mental health and cause further stress.