We all suffer stress and at times it is a necessary part of life.
It is a survival mechanism – think fight or flight. The body can handle stress for short periods of time but becoming too stressed, too often is damaging for our mental and physical health.
It impairs our ability to think straight or to act rationally and releases hormones that will damage the body.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 focused on stress. This report looks at the prevalence of stress in the UK and its implications. It also focuses on what we can do to manage and reduce stress and our recommendations for the government in creating a stress-free UK.
How many of us are stressed?
Information on how many people in the UK population as a whole are affected by stress is very limited. However, our new survey found that over the past year, almost three quarters (74%) of people have at some point felt so stressed that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. The survey, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation and undertaken by YouGov, polled 4,169 adults in the UK in 2018.
Stress in Spain
A common misconception is that life in Spain is less stressful than in the UK. However, about 40 per cent of the population of Spain will suffer from anxiety or depression at some time in their life. It is evident that stress in Spanish people interferes in vital aspects of their lives and can result in them starting to take drugs or other addictive substances, although only half of those affected have been diagnosed and are undergoing treatment.
This is the conclusion of Dr. Salvador Ros, who is the president of the Spanish Association of Private Psychiatry, Dr. Antonio Arumí, the secretary of the same association, and Dr. Josep Ramón Doménech, the coordinator of the VII National Congress on Anxiety and Associated Disorders, which took place recently in Barcelona.
According to Salvador Ros, “In Spain more than six million people are affected by anxiety and it is the cause of 10 per cent of all absenteeism from work; this is seven per cent higher than the average in European countries.” The cause, he says, is mainly due to the serious economic crisis and the problems caused by the present unemployment situation.
Josep Ramón Doménech points out, “More than half of the people who suffer from depression do not ask for specialist help and just ignore their condition.”
Dr Arumí also says that the present situation of uncertainty and stress has a major effect, primarily on those aged between 50 and 65, and then those between 40 and 50. The unemployed, housewives and the self-employed are the sectors most affected by anxiety, and experts have also noted an increase in smoking and alcohol consumption among these groups, as well as a decline in healthy eating.
Clearly, stress is not confined to the busy UK, it is equally prevalent in so-called laid-back countries such as Spain.
Is stress harmful?
While stress affects everyone in different ways, there are two major types of stress: stress that’s beneficial and motivating — good stress — and stress that causes anxiety and even health problems — bad stress. Here’s more on the benefits and side effects of stress and how to tell if you’re experiencing too much stress.
Benefit of Stress
According to experts, stress is a burst of energy that basically advises you on what to do. In small doses, stress has many advantages. For instance, stress can help you meet daily challenges and motivates you to reach your goals. In fact, stress can help you accomplish tasks more efficiently. It can even boost memory.
Stress is also a vital warning system, producing the fight-or-flight response. When the brain perceives some kind of stress, it starts flooding the body with chemicals like epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol. This creates a variety of reactions such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Plus, the senses suddenly have a laser-like focus so you can avoid physically stressful situations — such as jumping away from a moving car — and be safe.
In addition, there are various health benefits with a little bit of stress. Researchers believe that some stress can help to fortify the immune system. For instance, stress can improve how your heart works and protect your body from infection. In one study, individuals who experienced moderate levels of stress before surgery were able to recover faster than individuals who had low or high levels.
Side Effects of Stress
Stress is key for survival, but too much stress can be detrimental. Emotional stress that stays around for weeks or months can weaken the immune system and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety and even heart disease. In particular, too much epinephrine can be harmful to your heart. It can change the arteries and how their cells are able to regenerate.
And while stress isn’t a mental health problem in itself, it often leads to depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide. It can also lead to physical health problems such as cardiovascular disease and joint and muscle problems.
Signals of Too Much Stress
It may be tough to tell when you’re experiencing good or bad stress, but there are important ways that your body lets you know that you’re struggling with too much stress. Watch out for the following warning signs:
• Inability to concentrate or complete tasks
• Get sick more often with colds
• Body aches
• Other illnesses like autoimmune diseases flare up
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Trouble falling sleeping or staying awake
• Changes in appetite
• More angry or anxious than usual
So, what can you do about it? Read our stress guide for tips on handling stress and leading a calmer life.
If you feel you are unable to manage your stress and are experiencing negative thoughts and depression, make an appointment to see the GP or psychotherapist at Medcare. Call 966 860 258 or email doctors@medcarespain.com
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