What is Stress
Stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed upon them. There is a clear distinction between pressure, which can create a ‘buzz’ and be a motivating factor, and stress, which can occur when this pressure becomes excessive.
The modern stresses we face in our everyday lives – such as deadlines at work, performance reviews, financial difficulties, and interpersonal/relationship problems do not really trigger a flight or fight response. However, they do release the same stress hormones, and this natural reaction can damage health and reduce the ability to cope.
What are the causes of stress?
There are many trigger points that are responsible for stress, but the principle identified issues are:
Relationship conflicts |
Occupational pressure to perform |
Financial difficulties |
Family disputes |
Psychosexual problems |
Divorce and separation |
Unemployment |
Bereavement |
What are the symptoms of stress?
We all tend to react differently to stress but the following behavioural reactions tend to typify the most common affects:
Irritability and anger |
Constant anxiety |
Depression |
Irrational behaviour |
Appetite loss |
Mood swings |
Loss of libido |
Fatigue |
General feeling of non-specific ill health |
Stress affects almost everyone these days whether it is in the workplace or personally in a domestic setting. In the UK it is estimated that each week work related stress illness leads to an average of 30 working days lost.
According to the Health and Safety Executive:
- About 1 in 5 people say that they find their work either very or extremely stressful.
- Over ½ million people report experiencing work related stress at a level they believe has actually made them ill.
- A total of 13.8 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety in 2006/7.
- Work related stress costs society between £3.7 billion and £3.8 billion a year.
Increased litigation: There has been a sharp increase in the amount of stress-related damage claims made by employees.
Legal Responsibility: There is no specific law governing workplace stress, however under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is every employer’s duty to protect the health (including the mental health) of their employees at work. This includes taking steps to ensure that employees do not suffer stress-related illness as a result of their work. Stress related ill health (whether work-related or not) could be considered a disability and as such, under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, employers have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to assist such an individual within their job
For more information please click onto the "contact page" and complete the online enquiry form.