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HOW TO RECOGNISE THESE IN YOU & OTHERS and what to do 
Common Signs of Stress
This self help resource section was developed in partnership with our colleagues in the Primary Care Mental health support service of  Cwm Taf University  health Board  

 

 

FIRSTLY

Stress is Normal
We all experience periods of stress, of feeling low in mood, feeling anxious or angry from time to time. Sometimes this is in line with a difficult situation, money worries, relationship issues or problems in work.  A degree of stress is even useful, it’s what gets us going.  For example, anxiety when we are attending an interview is normal, as is feeling low when we lose a loved one or when a relationship breaks down.

We all would benefit from learning ways of boosting our wellbeing and from developing skills to manage stress, low mood and anxiety. That way when life does throw something at us we would have the tools to deal with it. 

When Should we be Concerned?

If we are feeling stressed, low and anxious and there is no reason behind it.

If it starts to interfere with our lives, effecting relationships or work.

If the things we might usually do to help to wind down don’t work.

Then we might need to develop other skills to find ways of coping or seek further help.

Click on the box below to view the most common signs of Stress, Do you notice any in yourself?

Common Signs of Stress

Worry

Having Panic attacks

Brooding

Feeling on edge

Anger

Poor concentration

Poor sleep/ tiredness

Being unable to switch off

Feeling worthless

Waiting for the worst to happen

Feeling hopeless

Tearful

Feeling irritable

Drinking too much

If we are feeling anxious, we might feel on edge, we tend to worry a lot. It can feel like we are waiting for the worst to happen.

When we are feeling low in mood then we may find ourselves brooding back over the past, we might feel tired all of the time and have no energy. We also experience a lack of hope about the future.

If you notice any of these then you’re in the right place!

How do I Assess My Mental Health?

There are questionnaires that can give an idea as to whether someone is feeling anxious or depressed and the level of difficulty they are experiencing . If you or a partner, family member or friend are feeling anxious or depressed click on the button to take you to an NHS site where you can take a questionnaire to find out a bit more about the level of your anxiety or depression. 

 

For individuals experiencing a severe level of difficulty please see the crisis support page.

Self Support
What Help is Available

Valleys Steps Online Workshops


Valleys Steps provide open access, free of charge courses in community venues across Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend. At this time we have taken our courses online due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. We have wide verity of courses taht are designed to help people boost their well-being and develop ways of managing issues such as Stress, Anxiety and Low mood.  Please register free via our online session page.

Self Help Applications


These apps are not a substitute for proper medical care/your local crisis team. Mobile apps are one of the easiest and most convenient means of self help, there are a wide range of applications that we can recommend that may help you with a variety of issues such as Stress, Anxiety and Low-mood.  Follow the button below to view some we find helpful.