Dealing with stress

Stress is something everyone feels at times, especially when dealing with change or life challenges, such as money worries, work issues or relationship problems.

A little stress can be a good thing, as it helps us to get things done or focus on something that needs our attention.

How we manage stress can make a big difference to our mental wellbeing, and the first step to managing it is to know how it affects us and why.

Find out about common symptoms of stress and possible causes. Plus get advice on stress relief, and a personalised plan of self-care tips.

What is stress?

Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure.

When we are stressed, our body releases a hormone called adrenaline (often called the "fight or flight" hormone), which usually gives us a boost or motivates us to act quickly.

But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.

Experiencing long-term stress or severe stress can lead to feeling physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often called "burnout"

What causes stress?

The things that cause stress vary from person to person.

The level of stress you are comfortable with may be higher or lower than that of others around you. Stressful feelings typically happen when we feel we do not have the resources to manage the challenges we face.

Pressure at work, school or home, illness, or difficult or sudden life events can all lead to stress.

Possible causes of stress include:

• our genes, upbringing and experiences as children or adults
• personal problems like relationship issues
• life changes, like moving house, having a baby or bereavement
• money worries, housing issues or job problems
• health issues, either for you or someone close to you
• pregnancy and parenting
• loneliness or feeling unsupported

Find out more about life's challenges that might cause stress and how to deal with them.