Is Your Mental Health at Risk from Stress?
Stress can contribute to mental health problems. Are you at risk?
By Cheryl Patterson
Many people associate health with physical aspects, such as our heart, and with concerns such as weight, cholesterol, and getting enough exercise, in order to “stay fit.” However our mental health is just as important.
“Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Canadians. Of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide, five are mental disorders,” according to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). They add that it “accounts for 30 per cent of disability claims, which translates into $15-33 billion annually in Canada.” No small feat!
Mental health is a critical part of our overall health. It involves our thoughts, feelings, and actions, which in turn affects how we handle life’s challenges. It impacts our ability to deal with demands, which includes areas such as decision-making and how we adapt to difficult situations—how we cope with stress.
When we feel bogged down by pressures, we don’t feel as motivated or energized as we might normally. And for some, it can be hard to get excited about life or things they enjoy, and they feel drained, unhappy, and like they’re just functioning – barely skimming by.
Epidemiological studies have found that stress is related to adverse psychological states, such as depression and anxiety. These states can have a significant impact on other areas of our lives, such as having social difficulties and relating to others, which can affect us both personally and professionally.
“Stress can affect how you cope…and can make it harder to manage day-to-day activities,” according to the Canadian Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). They add that it’s essential to deal with stressors in ways that support your mental health, including signs that indicate things are escalating.
Warning signs of too much stress:
• Feeling overly pressured, irritable, impatient, and sadness or guilt
• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions and forgetfulness
• Difficulty coping with problems and getting along with others
• Change in sleep patterns, weight or appetite
• Loss of interest, enjoyment or energy in things you used to like doing
Ways to cope with stress and support your mental health:
• Remember the basics. Many of us have heard of some of the basic ways of coping with stress, such as maintaining a balance in diet, exercise, sleep, leisure time and social support. The key is to maintain the positive aspects—buffers for stress—and realign what’s out of balance or dragging you down.
• Be assertive. Figure out your needs, concerns and frustrations—things that matter to you, and deal with them, as they arise. The main thing is to define your problem, communicate it (without blame) and your feelings to the appropriate venues, and create an action plan, clearly defining what your solution will be.
• Create “islands of peace.” Doug Saunders of the University of Toronto suggests, choosing enjoying activities, such as light reading, crafts, and outdoor activities that take your focus off your stress – that occupy you so time passes without realizing it.
Engaging in activities you enjoy can help you heal physiologically from the damage of stress (halting cell regeneration in the brain). ‘“It’s the equivalent of being in a light trance, and it’s a way of giving your mind and body the opportunity to recover from the fight-or-flight effects of chronic stress,”’ says Saunders.
You’re in the driver’s seat of your life, and nobody can make the changes necessary but you. Creating a balance between the demands in your life, dealing directly with your problems and defining solutions reduces stress. This will help you feel more in control of your life, and supports good mental health.
Sources
1. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). “Mental Health and the Workplace: National Mental Health week, and a new research initiative launched by CIHR’s INMHA, IPPH and IGH,” (2005).
http://www.irsc.gc.ca/e/27982.html
2. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “About mental health and mental health problems,” (2009). http://www.camh.net/Care_Treatment/Resources_clients_families_friends/Challenges_and_Choices/challenges_choices_aboutmhprobs.html#whatis
3. Health Canada: It’s Your Health. “Mental Health: Coping With Stress,” In collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), (2008), P 1, 2.
4. Health Link, B. C., “Stress management: Reducing stress by being assertive,” (2009). http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/actionset/av2095.html#av2122
5. Kim Pittaway. “Make Stress Work for You.” Best Health Magazine, (2008). http://www.besthealthmag.ca/embrace-life/wellness/make-stress-work-for-you
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