…supporting stress, anxiety and depression
It is estimated that 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem during the course of a year. Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain and the number of people living with mental health problems in the UK is growing. This area of health is not nearly as well understood as other areas.
Days lost to stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues cost UK employers around £28.3 billion per year.
Approximately 10% of children have mental health problems.
We need to acknowledge that the way we live has a profound impact on the way we live.
Stress in itself is not a problem and our bodies are well equipped to deal with it provided it is short term. It is when the pressure becomes long term that it starts to have a detrimental impact on an individual.
Feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal however people with a generalised anxiety disorder find it hard to control their worries which is often accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, problems with concentration, and muscular tension.
The term depression is used to describe a range of moods ranging from low spirits to more severe mood problems that interfere with everyday life. It is characterised by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration. It can be long-lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing an individual’s ability to function at work or school, or to cope with daily life.
Mindfulness can help people change the way they think and feel about their experiences, especially stressful experiences. It aims to achieve a relaxed, non-judgmental awareness of thoughts, feeling and sensations.
Benefits include better ability to cope with stresses/uncertainties of everyday life; improved sleep and ability to relax; learning the skill of responding to rather than reacting to situations; promotes kindness towards oneself and others.