EIC Update Stress Awareness Month
Last month, April, marked Stress Awareness Month in the UK. How we manage stress can make a huge diff erence in how we look aſt er our mental and physical wellbeing.
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dentifying stress: Stress is a natural physiological and psychological response to demands and threats. When we face a challenge, our body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare us for action. To identify stress, look for signs such as irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches and sleep disturbances. People under stress may also experience muscle tension, changes in appetite, or diffi culty concentrating. It’s crucial to diff erentiate between short-term stress, which can be motivating, and chronic stress, which can be harmful and lead to health issues like hypertension and a weakened immune system. Coping with stress: Coping with stress
eff ectively requires both short- and long-term strategies to maintain overall well-being. Short- term strategies include deep breathing, mindfulness meditation or taking a walk to clear your mind. Long-term stress management involves regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, ensuring adequate sleep, and pursuing hobbies and building a network of
friends and family for emotional support. It’s essential to recognise when to seek professional help. Therapists and counsellors can provide support and teach coping strategies. Work stress and burnout: Work stress occurs when the demands of the job exceed an individual’s ability to cope. Factors such as high workloads, tight deadlines and challenging relationships with colleagues or managers can contribute to work stress. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress.
It’s characterised by feelings of energy depletion, cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional effi cacy. Employers can help prevent burnout by promoting a healthy work-life balance, providing support resources and ensuring workloads are manageable. Indi- viduals can reduce stress by setting clear bound- aries between work and personal life, practising relaxation techniques and seeking support from colleagues, friends or professionals.
Family and relationships Stress within a family can arise from various sources such as fi nancial diffi culties, illness, or interpersonal confl ict. In relationships, stress can stem from communication breakdowns, mis- matched expectations or external pressures. To maintain healthy family dynamics, it’s important to communicate openly, share responsibilities and support each other during stressful times. Building strong, supportive relationships requires time, eff ort, and the willingness to resolve con- fl icts constructively.
The Electrical Industries Charity provides crucial support to individuals in the electrical industries during times of need, whether it’s fi nancial assist- ance, mental health support or career develop- ment. If you’re feeling like you need support, you can call the EIC helpline on 0800 652 1618 or email at
support@electricalcharity.org
12 | electrical wholesalerApril 2024
ewnews.co.uk
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