The number of people admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of stress has increased by 7% in the past year, according to a report by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). These 6,370 admissions do not include those who were seen and discharged from casualty departments. The HSCIC was sufficiently impressed by the findings to issue a press release warning that stress-related admissions were most common in people of working age (men slightly more than women) and were rising more than hospital admissions overall. Since nothing increases stress like going into hospital, how can you avoid an emergency admission?
The solution
Stress is a normal response to a threat, which if severe enough makes your body release adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones increase your blood pressure and set up your body's "fight or flight" response. So far so good if the response is appropriate, but not if the stress continues.
Most of us at some time will have had symptoms of chronic stress: feeling tense, agitated, sick, unable to sleep and unhappy. Many debilitating illnesses are linked to stress. The evidence is strongest for depression, irritable bowel syndrome and insomnia. Stress increases the risk of obesity, through comfort eating, and also of alcohol abuse. It causes family rows, forgetfulness and loss of confidence. It can be hard to avoid stress or to deal with it in the face of a life-changing event (such as being made redundant).
You may already know your stress triggers (job, relationship or money worries are common) but there can be smaller things as well, such as commuting on packed trains. It is important to manage your stress because it may well hang around. Some people are better at dealing with it than others, but there are things that everyone can benefit from trying to protect themselves against the fallout of stress.
Yoga, meditation and t'ai chi are all recommended, as is simply taking regular exercise, seeing friends and having a laugh. Mind, the mental health charity, says that limiting the number of things you are doing at any one time, pausing between tasks, reflecting at the end of the day, taking up a hobby that uses your brain differently, occasionally going away for a break and trying to be more assertive, can all help reduce stress.
A common concept in stress-busting is that of mindfulness. This works by promoting living in the moment – focusing on and, if possible, enjoying what you are doing now, rather than worrying about anything in the future. This can be easier to practise than relaxing if you are feeling particularly tense.
