Explains what stress is, what might cause it and how it can affect you. Includes information about ways you can help yourself and how to get support.
We all experience stress differently in different situations. Sometimes you might be able to tell right away when you're feeling under stress, but other times you might keep going without recognising the signs. Stress can affect you both emotionally and physically, and it can affect the way you behave.
"My head is tight and all my thoughts are whizzing round in different directions and I can't catch them."
Some people who experience severe stress can sometimes have suicidal feelings. (See our pages on how to cope with suicidal feelings for more information.)
"[It feels like] the world is closing in on me, I can't breathe and I'm running out of time."
This information was published in November 2017. We will revise it in 2020.
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