APRIL – Stress Awareness Month

In the Student Zone we like to raise awareness on different causes that are happening each month. These causes may impact you or someone you know and we like to provide as much help and information as we can to offer support. April is Stress Awareness Month and during the current climate we’re in, life can be a little more stressful than usual. We have put together some information that may help you.

April Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April, since 1992, to raise awareness about stress.

Stress is normal, every one of us experiences stress on a daily basis but too much stress can damage our health. The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to huge changes, uncertainty and new challenges for many of us. It’s important to recognise the stress that we face, manage it and reduce the impact it can have on our health.

What is Stress?

Stress is a simply a response from our bodies to a situation or life event, but the effects can vary hugely from person to person. When we are stressed, we can experience feelings such as anxiety, fear, anger, sadness and frustration. These feelings can feed on each other and making things worse, for some it can lead to symptoms of depression. Feeling stressed, we may also behave differently, becoming withdrawn and experience physical symptoms such as headaches.

All of us can feel the above, it’s important to remember you are not alone with this.

Dealing with stress & loneliness

During this Coronavirus outbreak it is important that we all take the time to look after our mental health during self-isolation. If you are worried about the coronavirus there is good advice from the NHS website- https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkLjn8OG66AIVCPlRCh2r0wA_EAAYASAAEgLPkPD_BwE

Below are some tips to help in taking care of your mental health and reduce stress.

• Keep in touch with people online. Make plans to video chat with people you’d normally see in person.
• Try to follow your normal routine as much as possible. You will still need to study so remember to go to bed at the usual time and keep your day free for college work.
• Try to keep active. Exercising at home can be simple with an exercise video online and follow the Government’s advice to keep safe distance if you do go outside if you go for a run/cycle.
• If you have more free time than usual, find ways to relax and be creative through reading, writing or take up a new hobby like drawing, sewing or DIY.
• Try to take some time out during the day and do some simple breathing exercises. You can find a simple breathing exercise on the NHS website:
  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ways-relieve-stress/

It is a difficult time for all of us, try to keep things in perspective and don’t be too hard on yourself. Look for things in your life that are positive and write down things that make you feel grateful.

If you feel overwhelmed by stress, the Student Zone staff and college counsellor are there for you RFoster@carlisle.ac.uk as well as the charity Samaritans  on 116 123.