The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) define stress as 'the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them'. Many factors, both inside and outside of the workplace, can lead to stress. As well as anxiety and depression, stress has been associated with heart disease, back pain and gastrointestinal illnesses.

In the workplace, it can be easy for managers to confuse positive pressure, which can create a buzz, and the harmful effects of pressure that is beyond a person's ability to cope. Outside the workplace, factors such as relationship, family or debt problems can create stress or turn the otherwise normal pressures of work into excessive ones for particular individuals.

Some of the numerous negative effects of Stress:

Minor health problems, such as upset stomach, headache, colds, flu, back pain, muscle cramps and missed menstrual periods.

One can suffer a loss of confidence and can gain a feeling of low self-esteem, a feeling of hopelessness and depression can set in.

A feeling of intense fatigue can follow you about all day. Even when you wake after sleep, you still feel tired.

Sleep patterns can become distorted, waking at 3 or 4 a.m.

Indigestion and eating disorders.

Self-blame, guilt, cynicism and a sense of total failure set in.

Anger and resentment at nothing in particular.

A feeling that something is missing.

You may find a reluctance to go to work.

Self confidence is lower.

Self esteem is lower.

Sex drive is lower.

Appetite can disappear or you may have a desire to go on an eating binge, especially with sweet, sugary foods.

If Stress is permitted to become established, it becomes a self-reinforcing process, giving rise to more and more negative actions and attitudes. This in turn leads to further stress and withdrawal. At the first signs of mental or physical discomfort, have a check-up with your doctor.

By keeping your stress under control you will find that your health will improve.
By improving your health, you will improve your ability to fight and control stress.

Helen offers a comprehensive course aimed at equipping you with the tools necessary to manage your stress and therefore start to alleviate the symptoms brought on by stress.

The Aim of the course is to enable each person taking part to  

1. Clearly IDENTIFY their own Stress symptoms
2. IDENTIFY the cause of their own Stress symptoms
3. DEVELOP personal Strategies most suitable for controlling and dealing with Stress

The course is delivered over 4 sessions each lasting approximately 1 hour at a total cost of £160 and can be offered in one 4 hour session if preferred.

For more information  call Helen on 07841 451915.

For businesses, Group Stress Courses are offered - please call 07841 451915 to discuss your requirements.