Seeking help

Everybody needs help from time to time, so ask for support whether it’s from friends, family, a doctor, a support group or helpline.

There are a variety of organisations that can help.  However, if you feel that you are unable to cope with your stress yourself, then seek professional help and go to see your practice nurse or doctor.  In order to help they will try and find out what is bothering you.

Self help

Friends and family – confide or speak to someone such as a friend or family member

Helplines/organisations – see support from a helpline or organisation that deals with problems such as housing, bereavement etc.

Support groups – people with common experience of difficulties who get together to support each other through sharing.  Find out what groups are available in your area.

Websites

Living life – offers free online courses around low mood and stress

NHS choices moodzone – helps you cope with stress, anxiety and depression

Apps – well mind – a free NHS mental health and wellbeing app designed to help with your stress, anxiety and depression

It may be helpful to look at your tick list and what symptoms you have experienced.

Useful websites and helplines which you may like to contact for yourself.

Professional help

There are many people your doctor can refer you to such as:

• Primary care mental health workers – trained to deal with mainly mild problems such as anxiety or depression
• Psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors – specialists who provide talking therapies to help with difficulties, through understanding and exploring ways of coping
• Psychiatrists – doctors with additional training to understand mental health problems who can also prescribe medication

Summary

Having worked the various road to wellbeing pages, you may have expected that all your worries would be over and you would be living a stress free life!  However the road to wellbeing is only the starting point, managing stress in our lives is something we all have to work at every day, including:

Understanding the stress in your life

Both helpful and unhelpful

Learning to recognise when you are stressed

Getting to know your personal warning signs will remind you to act early to try and prevent stress overload for yourself

Identifying where your stress is coming from

Try to deal with things that are causing you distress.  Explore possible solutions but be realistic about what you can control.  Ask for help when you need it

Making time for yourself

It is important to make time for yourself such as – relaxing, exercising etc.

Whichever way you choose, you can start to take control