Managing stress
Whilst it might feel hard to ask for help, suffering in silence can make problems seem even more difficult to tackle. Check out The Mix’s content on how to cope with stress to help you learn how to manage stress and understand the risk factors that cause it.
Mood swings & breakdown symptoms
Maybe you’ve found yourself thinking ‘Am I crazy?’ because you’re experiencing mood swings or other destabilising side effects of stress. If you’re asking that question, you’re probably not going insane. In fact, most people experience mild breakdown symptoms from time to time, especially after going through a stressful or traumatic event, such as moving home, going to university or doing exams.
What is a nervous breakdown?
Although a ‘breakdown’ isn’t exactly a medical term, it generally describes someone who is experiencing intense emotions and finding it difficult to cope with daily life. We all have a general sense of what a breakdown is, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows when they’re actually having one, or that they’re the same for everyone.
The effects of stress
Maybe you’ve become more irritable or withdrawn. You might be suffering from insomnia, finding that you’re losing interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable, or making excuses to avoid meeting up with family and friends. Check our article explaining what a nervous breakdown is to find out more.
Dealing with stress
Unfortunately, stress is pretty much an unavoidable part of life for most of us. But learning how to identify and deal with it can make it much more bearable. Once you understand what it is and what causes it, you can learn to be kinder towards yourself in those moments so that they don’t become so overwhelming. Sometimes all it takes is someone to talk to, so don’t forget that you can speak to our friendly team any time for free, non-judgemental support and advice.
How do I improve my mood?
Are you sad? Do you feel like you’re the only one who is feeling sad? And sometimes you get sad for no reason at all and you can’t shake that feeling. There are some things you can do which will lift your mood. The fancy word for this is ‘mental wellbeing’ and the NHS has actually identified scientifically-proven things you can do to improve this.
