Millions of people experience stress, and it can lead to physical health conditions such as heart disease, digestive problems and insomnia and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
For example, at over the last year 74 per cent of people felt so stressed that they felt unable to cope.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Isle Talk IAPT (Improved Access to Psychological Therapies) self-referral service offer a range of services, including stress control workshops which aim to provide strategies to help reduce stress levels and maintain wellness.
Isle Talk IAPT Stress Control Workshops
These sessions are for anyone aged 18 or over, experiencing stress, who want to understand how stress effects their thinking, body and actions, and want to learn techniques to manage this day to day.
They take place online for a period of six weeks, with weekly sessions offered either during a morning slot (9:30am to 10:30am) or early evening slot (5pm to 6pm).
The Isle Talk IAPT services also offer cognitive behavioural therapies to support people experiencing stress, anxiety and mild depression.
Most people feel stressed sometimes and a small amount of stress can be helpful in motivating someone to take positive action, this can lead to personal growth and developing resilience. Unhealthy stress can be related to work pressures, relationships, financial problems, health issues or even significant events such as buying a house.
Shepherd: Anyone struggling with stress should to get in touch
Nicola Shepherd, Clinical Lead for Isle Talk IAPT Services said,
“Stress is a reaction to mental or emotional pressure, often leading to a feeling of losing control over something but can also be triggered by no obvious cause.
“It can cause many different symptoms, including how you feel physically, mentally and can impact on your behaviour. It’s not always easy to recognise when stress is the reason you are feeling or acting differently to your usual self.
“We would urge anyone who is struggling with stress to get in touch with our Isle Talk IAPT service for referral to the Stress Control course or other available mental health and wellbeing support.”
Seek support early on
People who are feeling the effects of negative stress, should seek support early on to avoid it leading to further mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
The following could be signs that you may need support for your stress:
- You are struggling to cope with stress
- You have tried different ways to address your stress, and this isn’t working.
How to get in touch with Isle Talk IAPT Services
You do not need a GP referral to access IAPT services, you can self-refer to Isle Talk IAPT by calling: 01983 532860.
You will then be booked in for a telephone assessment, and then onto the course, if it is appropriate to meet your needs.
News shared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
Image: Elisa Ventur under CC BY 2.0
