Stress Awareness Month

Health & Safety, Equalities April 2 2020

April has traditionally hosted Stress Awareness Month. Whilst manageable levels of stress can be fairly healthy there is a fine line between being on top of stress management or suffering the ills of excess stress. Life for our members can and normally is fairly complex. Various health issues are triggered by excessive stress so there are many reasons why it isgood to manage stress levels and deal with any triggers as early possible, or better still avoid them all together.

Feeling snappy, overly anxious, or teary can be a sign that things are becoming a bit too much and the CWU’s Equality, Education & Development Officer Kate Hudson is keen to make sure CWU members do not suffer in silence. Kate adds “Everyone will have a higher element of stress at some stage in their lives. Given how tough our lives can be and with many of us having caring or other responsibilities, if things get difficult at work where can you turn to? It is important to understand signs that are associated with high levels of stress and I hope the following info will provide some guidance to help our members. Some of the classic signs of stress include:

• Low energy
• Headaches
• Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea
• Aches, pains, and tense muscles
• Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
• Insomnia
• Frequent colds and infections

The Coronovirus pandemic has also caused many of us to have heightened anxiety. If you are self-isolating try to have a routine built into your day and above all keep yourself and others safe. As a Union we want all our members to be safe in this difficult period and as part of our message during Stress Awareness Month above all try to keep a smile on your face!”

Further information here