What is stress?

“Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation that we don’t feel we can manage or control”. (Mind)

What causes stress?

Stress can be caused by a number of different things. A big event or situation can trigger stress, as can a build-up of smaller issues.

Stress can therefore be a result of feeling under lots of pressure or due to a big change in your life.

Stress isn’t always negative nor always triggered by a negative event. For example, stress can be caused by getting married, which is typically a positive event. Small amounts of stress can also be good to achieve targets and deadlines, which is particularly useful in the legal industry.

Stress becomes problematic when you experience intense stress or prolonged, regular periods of stress, so it is important to recognise different symptoms and how different events or triggers affect you, including physical, mental and behaviour impacts.

Everyone is different so will experience, and react, to situations and events differently. However, common causes and symptoms of stress are:

Causes of Stress
• Financial worries
• Feeling a lack of control
• Not having enough work or activities.
• Illness or injury
• Pregnancy and becoming a parent.
• Infertility and problems having children.
• Bereavement
• Getting married or civil partnered.
• Going through a break-up or getting divorced.
• Difficult relationships with parents, siblings, friends, or children.
• Being a carer
• Exams and deadlines
• Starting a new job
• Retiring

Recognising Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Frequent headaches
• Feeling ill (such as frequent colds).
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue
• Increased intake/reliance on alcohol/smoking.
• Feeling sick, dizzy, or fainting.
• Mood swings
• Panic attacks
• Changes in diet – comfort eating or skipping meals.
• Changes in weight.
• Chest pains and high blood pressure.
• Feeling restless
• Withdrawing from friends and family.
• Inability to concentrate.

Source: Mind

Managing Stress

Resilience is one of our core values at Maxwell Hodge. This helps us to remain adaptable and flexible to respond to changes and challenges, such as changes in the law.

Resilience also enables us to be proactive and problem-solve, helping us to well-support our clients.

Resilience helps us to be prepared and can therefore help us to deal with stress, and therefore manage it, more effectively. Taking care of our wellbeing generally is equally important, which means:

• Being kind to yourself and others.
• Finding time to relax.
• Developing your interests and hobbies.
• Spending time in nature.
• Spending time with friends and family.
• Looking after your physical health.
• Exercising regularly.
• Identifying your triggers.
• Organising your time to feel more in control.
• Building a good support network.
• Seeking professional support when needed.

Sources / Getting Help

Sources of information:
• Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/what-is-stress/
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/stress/

Getting Help:
• Anxiety UK: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
• Live Well Directory (Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens): https://www.thelivewelldirectory.com/
• NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/
• Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
• Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org
• Stress Management Society: https://www.stress.org.uk/
• Wirral Mind: https://wirralmind.org.uk/