Help Seeking
Coping with the common stresses of life
Stress is a human response to environmental demands or pressures. Stress may be caused by work, finances, family, relationships, demands we place on ourselves or other pressures of life. While stress can help to increase our alertness to deal with challenging situations, it can also be harmful if prolonged or overwhelming.
To cope with stress and become more resilient, it is important to monitor our stress levels, understand its causes and take steps to improve our situation.
By taking care of our general health and wellbeing and participating in stress reducing activities, we can positively alter our stress levels. It’s not always possible to avoid stressful situations, but we can develop strategies that help us cope. Some quick, practical tips have been included in this edition of the newsletter.
If you are feeling overwhelmingly stressed it may be time to seek help. Consider seeking help if you:
- Feel you aren’t coping and cannot manage the stress
- Can’t switch off or feel anxious when it’s time to rest
- Are having difficulty concentrating
- Find yourself withdrawing from activities you once enjoyed
- Find it difficult to eat or sleep properly.
Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or download a copy of our Overcoming Stress Tool kit and our brand new What is Stress? Fact Sheet for some practical advice about coping with stress.
Fundraising
Don't stress Australia! Stress Down Day 2010 is here
On Friday the 23rd of July wear your slippers, dress up or dress down for Lifeline’s Stress Down Day. Register your workplace, group or school and raise funds for Lifeline while participating in a fun, stress reducing activity.
All the funds you raise will help us continue to connect people with care through our 24 telephone crisis support service. This service has helped millions of Australians over the years, and continues to support people who are lonely, depressed, experiencing abuse, suicidal or coping with a crisis.
Participating is fun and easy! Register online at www.stressdown.org.au and get your friends and colleagues to dress to un-stress by:
- wearing slippers to work or school
- having a fancy dress theme
- wearing casual clothes for the day
- holding a stress down day event
Check out our Stress Down Day television commercial featuring Steve Bastoni.
Register Now
Remember there is only a month left to register, so for more information visit stressdown.org.au and start raising funds now!
Help Seeking
Practical tips for managing stress
- Be aware – monitor your levels of stress and ask whether they are helpful or getting you down.
- Take stock – think about things in your life or pressures you place on yourself that may be increasing your stress.
- Take charge – deal with unhelpful sources of stress before they build up and become a bigger problem.
- Make choices – look at areas in your life where you could manage your situation better or change the way you respond.
- Learn about some good ways to deal with stress, for example:
- Talk to someone you trust, call a friend, phone Lifeline
- Have a health check with your GP
- Get exercise
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Make time for things you enjoy
Our Supporters
SEEK staff set to stress down
The staff of SEEK - Australia’s most popular job site – have supported Lifeline for many years through their workplace giving program. They are also avid participants in Lifeline’s Stress Down Day and will be stressing down at work again this year.
“It’s a great staff engagement exercise, lots of fun and it’s all for a great cause!” – SEEK Employee
SEEK provide a positive example of how many individuals, making a small contribution, can make a big difference. Their weekly payroll donations contribute to the sustainability of Lifeline’s services, and their active support of Stress Down Day provides an example of how easy and fun it can be to support Lifeline.
SEEK will be using Friday 23 July to raise awareness among staff about the issue of stress in our lives and how to ensure it doesn’t get on top of us. They’ve registered their participation on the Stress Down website and will be fundraising by encouraging their staff to wear slippers to work on the day, enter a relaxation raffle, and make a gold coin donation to Lifeline in return for a 2-minute professional roaming massage.
Corporate supporters like SEEK form a valued part of the Lifeline community, and so can you! Register your workplace for participation in stress down day or contact our Corporate Relations Coordinator to discuss corporate engagement opportunities.
Fundraising
Shrink stress by running the City2Surf
When you are feeling stressed or experiencing low moods exercise can provide an effective release and trigger positive feelings. As well as helping your body to stay healthy, exercise may help your emotional wellbeing.
With this in mind, why not reduce your stress and support Lifeline by participating in this year’s City2Surf, which will be held on Sunday 8 August. The City2Surf is a world-renowned 14km run from the Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach.
Register to participate in this year’s City2Surf and raise funds for Lifeline and we'll send you a Lifeline running singlet and visor to wear on the day!
Simply visit the City2Surf fundraising page and fill in your details. Then contact our Fundraising Team to secure your running singlet and visor. Be quick, stocks and sizes are limited!
Don’t forget to send us the link to your Everyday Hero page once you’ve registered.
NB: If you are not used to regular exercise, it may be advisable to seek medical advice before starting an exercise program or entering an event.
