01/04/2026
🧠Stress Awareness Month
April is Stress Awareness Month, and this year, the focus isn't just on noticing stress—it's about taking action.
Stress isn't something that's just 'part of the job' or 'being x y z (mom, carer etc)'. If left unmanaged, it’s a significant health risk.
🫵🏻This month, I want everyone to Pause, Identify, and Act.
📉 The Reality of Stress in the UK (2026)
Sometimes we feel like we’re the only ones struggling, but the latest data shows we are in the midst of a "stress epidemic": Anyone that met me during COVID knows that I said this was happening.
Recent surveys show that approximately 1 in 6 adults in the UK feel stressed every single day.
In the last year (2024/25), 22 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
On average, those suffering from stress-related ill health took 22.9 days off to recover.
🔍 Spotting the Signs
Stress doesn’t always look obvious. It often whispers before it shouts. Are you noticing any of these?
Frequent headaches or tension?
Feeling overwhelmed or "on edge"? Snapping at loved ones?
Difficulty sleeping/Fatigue?
Racing thoughts & constant worry? Withdrawing from social plans?
Digestive issues or "knots"?
Irritability or impatience?
Changes in eating/drinking habits?
Muscle pain or jaw clenching ?
Loss of confidence or dread? Procrastinating or loss of focus?
🫵🏻I want to encourage you to take three small steps this week:
When you feel those symptoms sneaking in, PAUSE- ask yourself, what just happened? Is it a specific person, a time of day, or a certain task?
IDENTIFY-Is the stress internal (expecting perfection from yourself) or external (workload/finances)?
ACT-You don’t have to fix your whole life today. But what is one thing you can do that will help manage the stress? Set a boundary with yourself, say no to someone else, allow yourself that extra few moments to focus on yourself.
💬 If you need specific support, you know where I am. I have clinic in Rugby these days but I am also available online.