Stress
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Information you need to know to stay healthy and cope with stress.
01 About us
ABOUT US SolaVieve is a progressive health and technology company focused on empowering people from all around the world to live consciously, healthily, and enthusiastically. Our international team of experienced researchers, practitioners, and creators work closely to bring you high-quality, extensively researched content that can expand your knowledge about different aspects of holistic, preventive, and integrative health. You can be confident that you are making sound decisions about your health based on facts, studies, and scientific research, as our number one priority is to consistently provide scientifically proven content. SolaVieve, in partnership with the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), has created this mental health awareness campaign, which aims to increase public visibility and increase awareness of preventative interventions in mental health.
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02 Risk Factors
RISK FACTORS Find out what factors can reduce your ability to cope with stress.
03 Risk Factors
Stress can be both good and bad. Short-term stress is a healthy and expected reaction from the body. It helps you manage dangerous situations and pushes you to meet your goals, increasing your motivation. For example, it is normal to feel stressed when practicing extreme sports, when facing a looming deadline, or when interviewing for a new job. Stress becomes chronic when a stressor is constantly present in a person’s life, and chronic stress can lead to health problems.
I am getting married in two months and have been experiencing a lot of stress. Is that normal? Stress is the feeling of emotional or physical tension that can result from any type of demand or feeling of pressure. Good stress is the kind of stress you feel when you are excited, such as when you’re in the queue to ride a rollercoaster, getting ready to go on a first date, or, of course, preparing to get married. Some other sources of good stress include: a new job retirement a new baby a move to a new city Keep in mind that excessive worry or anxiety about multiple issues, and stress that doesn’t go away even without a stressor, can indicate a generalized anxiety disorder. Make sure to take a look at our Anxiety Brochure for more information!
04 Risk Factors
The causes of stress are different for each person. Some major causes of stress include: traumatic events, such as violence or theft chronic illness or injury emotional problems, such as depression, grief, displacement, etc relationship difficulties financial worries family issues
Is exposure to trauma during childhood a risk factor for chronic stress in adult life? Exposure to trauma, especially during childhood and early adolescence, when the brain is still developing, can make it harder to respond to and deal with stressors later in life. These kinds of trauma can include childhood abuse or neglect, poverty, or exposure to violence.
05 Symptoms
SYMPTOMS Find out what symptoms to look out for.
06 Symptoms
What is the difference between acute and chronic stress? Acute stress is a short-term type of stress that goes away quickly. It develops as a result of specific situations or events, such as when a person participates in extreme sports, faces a looming deadline, or interviews for a new job. Chronic stress, however, is a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time. It occurs when a stressor is constantly present in a person’s life, such as a toxic work environment, or a drawn-out divorce, and can lead to health problems.
Symptoms of stress can be both emotional and physical. Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge or demand, and it can be expressed in both physical or emotional tension. Signs of too much stress include: diarrhea or constipation headaches lack of energy or focus stiffness in the jaw or neck tiredness sleep disorders stomach problems forgetfulness aches and pains weight loss or gain sexual problems use of alcohol or drugs to relax
07 Symptoms
What health problems can occur as a consequence of chronic stress? With chronic stress, the body stays alert, even though there is no danger. Over time, this puts you at risk for health problems, including: high blood pressure heart disease diabetes obesity depression and anxiety skin problems, such as acne or eczema menstrual problems
What’s the difference between anxiety and stress? Stress is expected to reduce or disappear once the stressor is gone. Anxiety, on the other hand, is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away, even in the absence of stressors.
08 Healthy Lifestyle Choices
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES Hands-on! Tips to apply to your daily life to prevent stress and achieve mental wellbeing.
09 Healthy Lifestyle Choices
We should avoid unhealthy responses to stress. When feeling stressed, be mindful to avoid unhealthy behaviors. There are lots of different ways people try to alleviate stress, that can cause more harm than good, such as: overeating or undereating sleeping too much or not sleeping enough drinking alcohol smoking cigarettes withdrawing from friends and family connections Try to replace these behaviors with healthy habits, like going for a walk, reading a book, or taking a calming shower.
Is exercising a good way to cope with stress? Definitely! Getting physical exercise every day is one of the easiest ways to cope with stress. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise, three times a week, can have a positive effect on the symptoms of stress. Different lifestyle choices can help you reduce and manage stress. For more information on ''healthy lifestyle choices'' to manage and cope with stress, have a read of our General Mental Health Brochure.
10 Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Identifying what causes your stress can be the first step toward dealing with it. Knowing yourself is important for your path. To identify your causes and triggers, there are some questions you can ask yourself. What causes me to feel stressed? What makes me feel better? How do I deal with stress? How does my body react to stress? What thoughts do I have when I feel stressed?
Can spirituality help me manage my stress? Spirituality has many definitions and dimensions, but, at its core, spirituality helps to give your life context. It does not need to be linked with religion it is all about self-discovery. Spirituality allows us to feel connected with ourselves and others, giving our lives a greater meaning and a clearer purpose.
11 When to Ask For Help
WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP When to seek help and when to talk with someone you trust.
12 When to Ask For Help
I feel overwhelmed by stress, and it is affecting my ability to work and function at my job. What should I do? Sometimes, when we can’t find a healthy and effective way to manage stress, we can start to feel overwhelmed. If this sounds like you right now, you are not alone! Reach out to a trusted friend or health care provider if you feel you are unable to cope. They can help you address recurring issues and find solutions for easing stress. Other reasons you might want to seek help include: overwhelming feelings of panic frequent dizziness, rapid breathing, or a racing heartbeat fears you cannot control frequent memories of a traumatic event
What should I talk about with a professional? After reaching out to a professional, you can talk about your feelings, about what seems to make your stress better or worse, and why you think you are feeling this way. Make sure to talk with a professional if you notice any new or unusual symptoms.
13 Stress and Burnout
Stress and Burnout
Burnout is a syndrome that results from chronic stress that has not been successfully managed. Burnout syndrome is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It has a significant effect on the work performance and social life of individuals. It is characterized by the following three dimensions.
Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion: People affected feel drained and emotionally exhausted, unable to cope, tired and down, and have very little energy. Physical symptoms include things like pain and gastrointestinal (stomach or bowel) problems.
14 Stress and Burnout
Increased mental distance from or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to a person’s job: People who have burnout find their jobs increasingly stressful and frustrating. They may become cynical about their working conditions and their colleagues. At the same time, they may increasingly distance themselves emotionally, and start feeling numb about their work.
Reduced professional productiveness: Burnout mainly affects everyday tasks at work, at home, or when caring for family members. People with burnout have a very negative attitude toward their activities, find it hard to concentrate, are listless, and lack creativity.
15 Stress and COVID-19
Stress and COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak had a massive effect on people's mental health worldwide. A World Health Organization (WHO) survey showed that 90% of countries in early 2021 included mental health and psychosocial support in their response plans to the pandemic. Besides the fear of contracting the virus, all the significant changes added to our daily lives also impacted our mental health. Remote working, temporary unemployment, home-schooling, isolation, and a lack of physical and social contact amplified our concerns about mental health and wellbeing. WHO outlined the following tips and advice to help people adapt to, deal with, and begin to navigate this new reality.
Stay informed: follow trusted news channels and listen to the authorities' recommendations.
Follow a routine: keep a daily routine that
includes getting up and going to bed at similar times, eating regular meals, exercising regularly, etc.
16 Stress and COVID-19
Minimize news feeds: reduce the time you spend looking at the news if it makes you feel anxious or distressed.
Keep social contact: keep in touch with loved ones by calling them or contacting them on social media.
Limit alcohol consumption: avoid using alcohol
or other drugs as a way of dealing with fear, anxiety, boredom, and social isolation.
Be aware of your screen time.
Help others: support your community.
17 Sources
Sources Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. (2020). Depression: What is burnout? InformedHealth.org. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/ Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Spirituality and stress relief: Make the connection - Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044464?p=1 Plus, M. (n.d.). Stress and your health. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm Public Health England. (2019, October 25). Guidance 2. Mental health: environmental factors. Government UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-mental-health-jsna-toolkit/2-understanding-place World Health Organization. (n.d.). #HealthyAtHome - Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-health World Health Organization. (2019, May). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. World Health Organization. https://www.w h o. i n t /n ews / i te m / 2 8 - 0 5 -2 0 1 9 - b u rn - o u t- a n - o cc u p a tional-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases