Stress

• Definition
  Stress is not an illness – it is a state. Some stress can be positive as research shows that a moderate level of stress makes us perform better. However, if stress becomes too excessive and lasts for a long time, mental and physical illness may develop.
  
  Stress is the way your body and mind reacts when you feel the demands or pressures on you are more than you can cope with.
  
  Stress can be due to feeling overwhelmed with everyday life, situations or events or changes in your life.
• Signs
  Changes in emotional feelings, physical symptoms and in how your body works are all signs of stress.
  
  These can include:
  
  Feeling fearful
  Feeling panicky
  Feeling anxious, nervous or afraid
  Feeling breathless, sweaty, churning or fluttering in the chest or stomach
  Feeling tense, irritable or aggressive
  Losing your temper easily
  Needing to use the toilet often
  Feeling wound-up, fidgety or impatient
  Unable to enjoy yourself
  Losing interest in life
  Losing your sense of humour
  Feeling a sense of dread
  Worrying about your health
  Finding it hard to keep your kind on school work
  Feeling tired or lethargic
  Having trouble sleeping or sleeping less than usual
  Going off food or eating more than usual
  Nausea, stomach aches or changes in bowel habits
  Aches and pains
  Headaches
  Higher heart rate, sweaty palms
  
• Advice
  Identify the cause of the stress.
  
  A stress journal is one way of doing this
  
  Sort the possible reasons for your stress into those with a practical solution, those that will get better anyway given time, and those that you can’t do anything about. Try to let go of those in the second and third group – there is no point in worrying about things you can’t change or things that will sort themselves out.
  
  Get physical
  Get creative
  Spend time with friends and do things you enjoy
  Make time for fun and relaxation
  Adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and enough sleep
  Talk to someone you trust, a friend, an adult, a teacher, GP or counsellor
  
  It’s not healthy to avoid a stressful situation that needs to be addressed, but you may be surprised by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate for instance by learning to say no or avoiding people who stress you out.
• Where can i get help?
  In school you can talk to the following people:
  A friend
  Your Tutor
  A YHS Wellbeing Advisor
  Pupil Welfare Officer
  Pastoral Mentor (Drop in sessions Tuesday & Wednesday during break and lunchtime)
  
  In the community:
  Talk to your parents or GP
  
  Telephone
  Childline (Free) 0800 1111
  York Mind 01904 643364
  Samaritans 116 123
  
  Links:
  Childline
  Young Minds
  Mind
  Calm Harm