Pulford Publicity Charity of the Year: Dorset Mind

Stress and anxiety

By Dorset Mind

Throughout April, Dorset Mind was raising awareness of the impact of stress on mental health and wellbeing during Stress Awareness Month.

Anxiety fuels stress in a repetitive cycle, which impacts both mental and physical health and without self-management, can escalate.

David Sutherland, Active Monitoring team leader at Dorset Mind, a mental health support service, explains the difference between stress and anxiety: “Stress is a normal response to situations and events, and anxiety is stress that hangs around after the exam or deadline is over.”

Here are some of the things that have worked well in helping our Active Monitoring participants to reduce stress and prevent anxiety in the longer term:

• A supportive network of family and friends. Being open about stress means that others will have a greater understanding of your triggers and how they can support you.

• A positive outlook in life. Being positive means really focussing on the good things in life and writing them down.

• Being honest with oneself. When sick with a cough or cold and feeling rough, it’s vital to rest.

• Confidence in our ability to address the issues that cause stress. Speak to your manager, your family or your friends to try and find solutions.

• The 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Be active, Connect, Take Notice, Give, Learn.

It’s normal to feel stressed. Often people experience stress as a response to changes in life. However, when it feels difficult to manage alone or is affecting your day-today life, it’s time to seek help.

Active Monitoring sessions offer support for a wide range of wellbeing issues and can be accessed through many GP Surgeries in Dorset. Find out more on the Dorset Mind website, dorsetmind.uk.