National Stress Awareness Day on the 5 November and it’s an opportunity to raise awareness of stress and remind everybody of the Free NHS Talking Therapies available in Kent and Medway to help you if you are suffering the effects of stress. This year’s Stress Awareness Day theme is Stress the Balancing Act, reminding us to try to get the balance right in our lives.

So what is stress?

Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. People have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else. Many of life’s demands can cause stress, particularly work, relationships and money problems. And, when you feel stressed, it can get in the way of sorting out these demands, or can even affect everything you do.

Stress can affect how you feel, think, behave and how your body works. In fact, common signs of stress include sleeping problems, sweating, loss of appetite and difficulty concentrating. You may feel anxious, irritable or low in self esteem, and you may have racing thoughts, worry constantly or go over things in your head. You may notice that you lose your temper more easily, drink more or act unreasonably. You may also experience headaches, muscle tension or pain, or dizziness.

So if you recognise any of these symptoms and think that you are suffering from the effects of stress why not refer yourself into the Free NHS Talking Therapy services available in Kent and Medway.

For more information go to the links below:

• Free NHS Talking Therapy in Kent and Medway
• Stress Information on NHS Choices
• ISMA’s National Stress Awareness Day 2014