Welcome to the Hope Street Centre's resource pages for stress. Here you will find links to articles, files to download and other useful information on dealing with stress.

I am noticing that an increasing number of clients are attending The Hope Street Centre with problems caused by stress.  Much of the stress is work-related, although money problems, relationships, illness and trauma also play a part.  It is particularly worrying that many young people are stressed, as they juggle the demands of long working hours, commuting, bringing up a family and paying bills that are forever increasing.

Fortunately it is possible to combat stress relatively easily if it is recognised before serious symptoms of burnout develop. Typical signs  include irritability, impatience, outbursts of emotion, panic attacks, making uncharacteristic mistakes, illness, sleep disturbances. Some suggestions for tackling stress are presented on the stress management page.

In addition to the information on these pages we have a newsletter "Overcoming stress in the workplace" available for download in PDF format. If you represent a business or organisation in our area we have a 30-minute presentation on stress in the workplace which we can present to help raise awareness. There are a range of services we can offer to organisations to help reduce stress and promote the wellbeing of employees.

Maurice Tomkinson

This page offers some ways in which therapists practising from The Hope Street Centre can help organisations promote the wellebing of their employees.

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Adrenaline

There are many practical things we can do to manage stress. The first step is to recognise the dangers that can occur when we are exposed to non-stop stress...

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In this article which appeared in the Sandbach Chronicle, reflexologist Caroline Fallon explains how reflexology can be used as a treatment for stress.

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Executive Coaching can help individuals to be more successful in their personal objectives, through clarifying goals, increasing motivation, improving morale and overcoming limiting thought patterns and behaviours.

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Traumatic incidents, whether in or out of work, can cause serious distress and impair a person's ability to function. Trauma can be cumulative so sometimes a relatively minor incident (such as a low-speed car accident in which no-one was hurt) can act as a "last straw" that reawakens symptoms from pervious traumatic events. There is growing evidence that appropriate trauma-focused therapy can bring about dramatic improvements in well being after trauma.
For information on trauma therapy at the Hope Street Centre contact Jessica Woolliscroft

We see a surprisingly large number of people who are badly affected by the behaviour of work colleagues. Those affected can suffer illness, panic attacks, depression, loss of confidence and some are driven to suicidal levels of despair. Often employees feel powerless to deal with the problem, believing that they will not be heard or understood. Talking to an independent person and exploring strategies for coping can help the employee to take control of the situation and resist the bullying behaviour.

People under stress often use alcohol to help them wind down in the short term, although the reality is that alcohol can increase overall stress levels and reduce a person's ability to cope.

if you have a difficulty with alcohol, talking to a counsellor with experience in the field can help

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The following are some of the reasons people give for seeking help with their drinking:

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Government Office for Science Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project available from www.foresight.gov.uk

“Working for a Healthier Tomorrow”, Dame Carol Black's Review of the health of Britain's working age population, available from www.workingforhealth.gov.uk

HSE publication “Tackling Stress: The Management Standards Approach” available from
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg406.pdf

HSE publication “Making the Stress Management Standards Work” available from
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc714.pdf

“Stress at Work” booklet published by Acas available from
www.acas.org.uk