Stress is a part of life. It happens to everyone every day as we cope with ordinary events, interact with people and meet all kinds of demands. But too much stress can affect our physical and mental health.
Stress can occur anytime. There are certain periods when we are more susceptible to stress, for example, during exam periods, festive seasons, when someone in the family is ill and during crisis and emergencies.
Stress Symptoms
Physical- Aches and pains
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Fatigue/lethargy
- Palpitations
- Stomach upsets
- Dizziness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Anxiety
- Tension
- Irritability
- Depression and moodiness
- Feelings of being overwhelmed
- Restlessness
- Forgetfulness
- Poor concentration
- Mental blocks
- Difficulty in organising and making decisions
- Sleep problems
- Crying
- Poor appetite or the opposite, increase in appetite
- Falling ill — colds, coughs
- Withdrawal
- Smoking/drinking excessively
Causes of Stress
External sources of stress could include:
- Personal problems
- Work problems
- Relationship difficulties
- Pressure of studies
- Health problems
- Financial crisis
- Unemployment
- Losses, e.g. bereavement
- Unexpected news
- Daily hassles
Learning How to Manage Stress
As stress is an inevitable part of our lives, it is necessary to arm ourselves with the necessary skills to counter it. The following eight tips can help you to manage your stress.
- Know yourself: self-awareness, recognition and acceptance of ourselves are important for stress management. We need to know what makes us react to stress
- Renew (reprogramme) your mind: being able to recognize and change our negative thinking styles will alter our feelings, and eventually reactions to the sources of stress
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Seek balance and flexibility: stress can be the result of a sense of loss and insecurity. Be more flexible in matching your response to the context and situation
- Look after your body: a healthy body is a natural defence against stress. Eating and sleeping well ensure better health and a sense of well-being. Regular exercise helps to build physical and mental strength against stress
- Use stress-coping strategies: it is important to have good coping strategies. These include:
- Engaging in activities you enjoy
- Practising relaxation techniques
- Talking to someone you trust
- Engaging in physical exercises
- Prioritizing tasks accordingly
- Loving yourself
- Seeking professional help
Where To Seek Help?
If you need more information/resources to help you cope with stress, you can go to
Belle, the Beyond the Label help bot.
SOS (Samaritans of Singapore) also provides emotional support for those in crisis.
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Helplines
Visit MindSG for more tools to take care of your mental well-being. | |||||||||||||||
Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
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Contributed By
- Health Promotion Board