Coping with Stress

Unfortunately, stress will affect all of us at some point in our lives. Our blog looks at the symptoms, devising coping strategies and where to find help if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, stress is something that none of us can avoid completely. We’ll all experience times when everything seems to get on top of us. But by being able to recognise stress and find our own coping strategies, we can live happier and healthier lives. 
 

Symptoms of Stress

Stress is a feeling of being anxious, overwhelmed or unable to cope. There are many symptoms that can vary from person to person, both psychological and physical. 

Common psychological and behavioural indicators include:

• Feeling especially anxious or fearful
• Being more irritable or short-tempered
• Social withdrawal and depression
• Over-thinking and worrying
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Loss of self-esteem
• Felling overwhelmed by situations you would normally be able to deal with

 
Physical signs of stress can include:

• Fluctuations in weight and changes in your eating habits
• Relying more on stimulants like nicotine, caffeine and alcohol
• Extreme fatigue or lethargy
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Muscle pain or tremors
• Headaches, chest pains and stomach aches
• Skin rashes, like psoriasis
• Dizziness and sweating

 

What can you do to lower stress levels?

Fortunately, there are things you can do to ease stress, whether it’s devising your own coping mechanisms or seeking professional help.

Self help

• Talk about your difficulties with friends, family and your employer. You’ll be amazed at what people will do to help you when they understand how you’re feeling. It also feels good to get it off your chest.
• Eat well and exercise. Giving your body the right nutrients has a positive impact on your mood as well as your physical health. Exercise is also a proven way to de-stress, help your body relax and improve sleep.
• Try therapies like massage, aromatherapy or meditation. Doing yoga and breathing exercises are really good ways to calm down too.
• Make time for hobbies and socialising. It might seem like the last thing you have time for, but losing yourself in an enjoyable activity or catching up with friends can make a world of difference to your wellbeing.
• Try and manage your time more efficiently. We’re often stressed because we feel we’ve got so much to fit into our busy lives. Using an app, diary or schedule to use time more effectively can help reduce anxiety.

Professional help

Self help is a great start, but sometimes it might not be enough. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to see your GP who can help you decide if other treatments (like short-term medication or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) might be the way forward. There are also mental health charities like Mind, the Stress Management Society and CarersUk who give excellent advice and support to people living with stress.
 

Caring for our customers and staff

At Bluebird Care Bromley, we take stress seriously. As a homecare agency, we understand that caring for people can sometimes be a stressful job, whether you’re a professional care worker or you’re looking after a loved one at home.

For our customers, we offer respite care to family members looking after someone at home. We know that taking a well-deserved break is essential, that’s why we’re always here to support you.

Our staff are just as important to us as our customers. We understand that working in homecare can present unique challenges, especially when caring for people with life limiting conditions. Being aware of these issues and supporting our care teams at difficult times is central to our values as a caring employer.

If you’d like to talk to us about how we could help you care for a relative, or you’d like to speak to someone in the office about stress, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Just give us a call on 020-7635-1930 or drop us a line. We’re here to help.