Published by Bupa's Health Information Team, December 2011.
This factsheet is for people who would like information about stress.
Stress can be defined as the way a person feels when the pressure they are under exceeds their ability to cope. Everyone reacts to stress differently depending on their personality and how they respond to pressure. Stress can be caused by many things, such as work, money worries or relationships. It can cause psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and irritability, and physical symptoms, such as poor sleep.
Some stress is good for you and a certain level of pressure can help you prepare for actions and challenges. However, too much stress, especially over a long period of time, can cause physical and emotional problems.
Many of your body’s control mechanisms happen without you having to think about them. Your involuntary stress response to unexpected events is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response.
When you have a shock or perceive something as a threat, your body releases hormones (chemicals produced by your body), such as adrenalin, that contribute to the ‘fight or flight’ response. These hormones increase your heart rate and blood pressure so that more oxygen and glucose can get to your muscles. You will also breathe faster and sweat more to cool these muscles down. All of these reactions prepare you to take action to deal with a possible threat.
Modern day stresses, such as money worries or deadlines at work, don’t cause a ‘fight or flight’ response like we once required to survive in the wild, but they do cause your body to release stress hormones. In the short term, stress ‘revs up’ your body and heightens your ability to carry out tasks and meet deadlines. However, long-term stress can have a negative effect on how you cope with situations and may even be damaging to your health.
Everyone reacts to stress in different ways. However, there are some common symptoms to look out for.
Psychological symptoms can include:
You can also get emotional symptoms, including:
You may also get physical symptoms. These can include:
These symptoms may be caused by problems other than stress. If you have any of these symptoms, see your GP for advice.
Your behaviour might also change and may include:
All sorts of situations can cause stress. These can include:
Stress can also be caused by a build-up of small things over time, for example, you may not feel valued at work or you may have a child whose behaviour is hard to deal with. Sometimes there is no obvious cause for stress.
Try to recognise the difference between temporary stress, which usually goes away once a specific problem is resolved, and long-term stress that can be damaging to you, your health and those around you.
There is no specific test to diagnose stress. If you think you’re stressed or if you feel very anxious, talk to your GP. He or she will usually be able to recognise the symptoms and give you advice about how to deal with it. Your GP may also refer you to a counsellor if you need one.
You might feel reluctant to ask for help if you’re stressed or feel under pressure, but don’t be afraid to speak to your GP, friends or family. It’s important to recognise the symptoms of stress so you can learn how to manage them and begin to feel better.
To be able to tackle stress, it’s important to recognise the symptoms and realise that it’s causing you problems. There are a number of ways to reduce the effect that stress can have on you. If these don’t work, your GP may recommend other options, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or medicines.
Exercise can be very effective at relieving stress and is good for your wellbeing. It can improve your mood, give you a sense of achievement and helps you release daily stress. According to the Department of Health, there is clear evidence that physical activity reduces your risk of depression and there is some evidence that physical activity improves sleep. It helps reduce stress hormones and stimulates the release of endorphins (the hormones that make you feel good) in your body.
You can incorporate exercise into your daily routine. A brisk walk to the shops, cycling to work or gardening can help. The recommended healthy level of physical activity is 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate exercise (this means your breathing is faster, your heart rate is increased and you feel warmer) over a week in bouts of 10 minutes or more. You can do this by carrying out 30 minutes of exercise on at least five days each week.
There are a number of other things you can do to help deal with stress better.
You can also learn techniques to manage your stress from self-help books and audio tapes, or by attending a stress management course. Some people find that meditative approaches, such as yoga and tai chi, are effective at reducing stress and anxiety. Yoga can help you control your breathing and relax your mind.
Find a solution that fits you, your lifestyle and your personality. There is no right or wrong approach as everyone reacts to stress in different ways, so different approaches will work for different people.
CBT is a talking treatment that looks at how situations can lead to thoughts that will have an impact on your feelings and behaviour. It aims to change the way you think and behave and helps you to challenge negative thoughts or feelings.
CBT can help to treat many problems, such as sleeping difficulties, relationship problems, drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety or depression. The therapy focuses on your thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes (known as your cognitive processes) and how this relates to the way you behave. You may be able to have CBT at your GP surgery.
Sometimes, depending on how severe your stress is, your GP may prescribe you antidepressants. Although antidepressants are primarily used to treat depression, many can be prescribed for other conditions, such as different forms of anxiety.
If you become stressed easily or often feel anxious, it’s important to learn how to reduce these feelings. You may find it helpful to learn relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and meditation, to help you manage stressful situations.
Massage and aromatherapy can promote a sense of wellbeing and provide a relaxing environment that helps you unwind. There is little scientific evidence to show whether or not aromatherapy is an effective treatment for stress, although there is anecdotal evidence to support its use. Aromatherapy may not be suitable for everyone.
Some people find that other complementary therapies offer some benefit, including acupuncture, visualisation, reflexology and herbal remedies. However, there isn’t enough evidence to say if they are effective or not. Speak with your GP before you start any complementary therapy.
You may find herbal remedies helpful, but it’s important to remember that natural doesn’t mean harmless. Herbal remedies contain active ingredients and may interact with other medicines or cause side-effects. Don’t start taking any herbal remedies without speaking to your GP or pharmacist first.
See our videos about stress, they include:
For answers to frequently asked questions on this topic, see Common questions.
For sources and links to further information, see Resources.
Related topics
Related tools
Free online health risk assessments and calculators.
Related health risk assessments
Take our free online health check
Bupa By You.
Affordable new health insurance.
Adaptable cover from 98p a day^
Now with 2 months free cover^
See a Private GP in confidence to discuss any concerns you may have about your health or your family's health or call 0845 600 3458 quoting ref. HFS GP .
This information was published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our Health Information page.
Publication date: December 2011
For life's ups and downs try Bupa Health Insurance
Get the immediate attention you need with our private GP service. Most appointments are within one working day.
Bupa By You
