Stressed

How you might be feeling

You might feel sad or tearful, anxious or worried, angry or unable to concentrate. Sometimes stress makes it hard to eat or sleep properly. You might even get physical pains.

Being stressed for a long time is bad for your health.

There are lots of different feelings that come with stress, but these are some of the most common.

• Feeling sad
• Feeling angry
• Struggling to concentrate
• Finding it hard to eat or sleep properly
• Getting physical pains, such as a headache or stomach ache

Top tips

• My name is… Say hello to the things that are stressing you out. Write them down, crossing out anything that’s unlikely to happen.
• A problem shared… Have a rant, have a cry, thump a cushion. Message a friend or talk to an adult you trust.
• Go slow… Take a walk in the park, load a playlist, or pick up a book.
• Make a list… List the top 5 most important things you need to do today. Tick them off as you complete each one.
• Get breathless… You might not feel like it but exercise and sport make a big difference to your wellbeing.
• Smile… Smiling makes other people feel better and changes our own mood too.

We have lots of information on this website to help you understand stress and anger. You can learn about how stress can affect you and find tips and advice on how you can manage stress.

These tips include identifying your triggers, organising your time, and building a support network.

When to get help

If you’re struggling to cope with stress and the things you’re trying yourself are not helping, take a look at the free support services which can help you.

There’s lots of options – including both online and in person support.

PositiveMinds and Kooth are good options for support with stress, but any service will welcome and support you to get the right help you need.

If you’re aged 16+ and not sure where to get support, contact the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub on 0300 123 6621 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm) to talk to the team, or chat online.