Stress: how it affects the body and mind, and where to get help

What is stress?

The NHS describes stress as usually a reaction to mental or emotional pressure, often related to feeling a loss of control over something, though sometimes there is no obvious cause. Common triggers it lists include pressure at work, relationship or family difficulties, money worries, illness and bereavement. The NHS says most people feel stressed sometimes and some find stress helpful or even motivating, but that if it is affecting life there are things that may help. The NHS says too much stress can affect mood, the body and relationships.

How does stress show up in the body and behaviour?

The NHS says stress can affect emotions, causing feelings such as irritability, anger and tearfulness. Physical symptoms listed include headaches, stomach problems, muscle tension and dizziness. Behaviour can change too, for example with sleep problems, loss of appetite, or drinking or smoking more.

What does the NHS suggest for managing stress?

NHS pages suggest identifying the cause as the first step, then breaking large tasks into small targets and focusing on what can be changed. Controlled breathing, deep muscle relaxation and mindful breathing are listed as ways to reduce tension and some of the physical signs of stress. Talking to trusted friends, family or colleagues, or contacting a helpline, is also suggested. The NHS advises against using alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve stress, because these can contribute to poor mental health.

When does the NHS suggest getting help?

If urgent help is needed for mental health but it is not an emergency, the NHS says to use NHS 111 online or call 111 and choose the mental health option, or to ask for an urgent GP appointment. In England, adults aged 18 and over can refer themselves directly to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP, and in some areas the minimum age is 16. If stress has led to thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call 999 if there is immediate danger, use NHS 111 and choose the mental health option for urgent help, or contact Samaritans free at any time on 116 123.

What happens in the body during stress?

An NHS self-help guide describes stress as the body's reaction to feeling under threat, known as the fight or flight response, and says a certain amount of pressure can be helpful and motivating. The British Heart Foundation explains that the brain signals the body to release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. It says that if this response keeps being switched on again and again, over time it can take its toll on the body.