Stress at university or at work
Feeling overwhelmed at university or work is a leading cause of stress. We tend to feel stressed when we are put in situations that are particularly pressurised or challenging – in short, the kinds of situations that can regularly crop up within an academic or professional environment.
When stress becomes a part of your daily life it can begin to take its toll, not just on your mental health, but your physical health too. For this reason, it’s a good idea to speak to a doctor about your stress and begin to try and resolve it.
Dealing with stress at university
Stress is a common side effect of undertaking a university degree. For many students, the jump to university is unexpectedly difficult. It’s common to struggle with your workload, feel anxious about essays and examinations, and worry about your performance.
Stress can lead to symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, headaches, muscle aches, and difficulty concentrating. If you suffer from these symptoms, they can impair your ability to study and attend classes, creating a stress cycle.
In addition to speaking to a doctor about the stress you are experiencing, you should make use of your university’s pastoral care services. Modern institutions provide support and guidance for students suffering from mental health issues and can normally offer adjustments that will make your workload more manageable.
Dealing with stress at work
Suffering from stress at work is very common, but if you’re finding that it’s affecting you on a daily basis you should address it. Ongoing feelings of stress in your work environment can hamper your ability to do your job, and cause problems in your social life and relationships. Resolving work-related stress should start with working out the causes and establishing some coping techniques. Beyond that, you should seek help.
As well as speaking to a doctor about how you’re feeling, you should consider talking to your manager or your company’s human resources representative. In the UK, employees dealing with mental health issues cannot be discriminated against, and reasonable adjustments must be made to ensure they can do their work.
If you would like to speak with a GP about stress make an appointment with Doctor Care Anywhere. You can also use our wellbeing tool, MyHealth with tips and resources for improving your mental health.