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Help & guidance

Impact of stress on the body

General Care

Safety & wellbeing

What is stress?

At some point in our lives, everyone feels a level of stress, and it can be a good thing. Some people use stress to help them focus on demanding situations or as a means to motivate themselves. For many others stress can be debilitating with serious implications on both physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone deals with stress differently and our ability to cope depends on a variety of factors from genetics to personal circumstances. 

Here we focus on what it does to the body, and things that can be done to help with stress.

Recognising physical signs of stress

When we face a stressful situation, the body produces stress hormones. These hormones then trigger a response, fight or flight, as well as activating our immune system, to help us deal with dangerous situations. Sometimes this response is helpful, it can help us push beyond our ‘normal’ capabilities. However too much stress, too often can cause negative effects, leaving us overwhelmed, and long-term affecting our physical and mental health.

Guide - Stress Symptoms


As you can see, stress can cause a variety of symptoms and it is not always easy to recognise that stress is the reason behind them. It can be helpful to keep a ‘stress diary’ for a few weeks, note down any stressful situations or symptoms of stress and then review to help you identify those all-important triggers.

Coping with stress

The HSE recommends a variety of ways that can help cope with stress including:

  • Planning ahead
  • Breaking down tasks
  • Focus on things you can control
  • Think about the good things
  • Talking about your feelings 
  • Breathing exercises 
  • Mindulness
  • Sleep well
  • Healthy eating 
  • Physical activity 

Stress Control course

For many people, stress can include or be linked to feelings of anxiety or low mood.

Our 'Stress Control' course can help you learn stress management skills.

StressControl.ie

Minding your Wellbeing Programme videos

5 videos that help you learn more about mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.

Watch the Minding Your Wellbeing Programme videos

Mindshift CBT app

A free app that helps you reduce worry, stress and panic. It is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Get Mindshift from the App Store

Get Mindshift from Google Play

Headspace app

An app that teaches meditation and mindfulness skills.

Get Headspace from the App Store

Get Headspace from Google Play