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The Man MOT (Monday Opportunity to Talk) online surgery is here every Monday evening from 6pm-11pm to offer men a free and secure service where they can talk to a GP anonymously, and in confidence.
What is stress?
Stress is a modern, widely-used buzzword that’s used to describe the feelings of “distress” experienced when tension becomes unbearably high. In fact, a moderate level of stress is important and beneficial — it’s a key element that enables you to deal positively with the physical and emotional challenges of life.
The most noticeable symptoms are physical1 because they often cause severe discomfort. They include:
Stress affects the mind as well as the body. Common mental symptoms include:
A moderate amount of stress is inevitable; it is neither desirable nor possible to eliminate all stress from your life. On bad days you may crave to be stress-free, but too little action can have the opposite effect.
Your best bet is to prevent stress getting out of control by finding ways both to tackle the causes of stress and to improve your coping strategies.
Deciding whether to consult someone about stress depends on how you feel. If symptoms of distress are making you unwell it would be advisable to seek help without delay. You could speak to your GP, the practice nurse at the surgery, the occupational health nurse at your workplace (if there is one) or a stress counsellor.
Content sourced with permission from Men’s Health Forum. Visit www.malehealth.co.uk for more health information for men.