Supporting the Mental Health of South African NPO's

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Mental Health Information

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What is stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can be triggered by any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge such as having to finish a project at work or having financial issues. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline but over long periods of time, stress can cause someone to feel both emotionally and physically drained.

Self-help for stress:

  • Try physical activity: When you are nervous, angry, or upset, release the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running walking, playing tennis or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try.
  • Share your stress: It helps to talk to someone about your concerns or worries. Loved ones can help you see your problem in a different light. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek help from a mental health professional. Knowing when to ask for help may avoid more serious problems later.
  • Know your limits: If a problem is beyond your control and cannot be changed at the moment, don’t fight the situation. Learn to accept what is -for now- until such time when you can change it.
  • Take care of yourself: You are special. Get enough rest and eat well. If you are irritable and tense from lack of sleep or if you are not eating correctly, you will have less ability to deal with stressful situations.
  • Make time for fun: Schedule time for both work and recreation. Play can be just as important to your will being as work; you need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun.
  • It’s OK to cry: A good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety, and it may even prevent a headache or other physical consequence. Take some deep breaths; they also release tension.
  • Avoid self-medication: Although you can use prescription or over the counter medication to relieve stress temporarily, they do remove the conditions that caused the stress in the first place. They should only be taken on the advice of your doctor.

 

If you need more Mental Health self-help or information on Mental Health, please click here

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