Stress Awareness week 2021

Many people around the UK experience stress at varying levels, which can be damaging to our health and wellbeing. Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. You may have heard of the fight or flight response? This is when your body reacts to pressure or threats, through the release of hormones. Some stress can be helpful and motivational, but too much stress can have a serious negative impact on our mood, body and relationships. You can find out more about International Stress Awareness Week here.

Stress affects people in different ways - a situation which may be stressful for one individual, will not be for another. At The Dower House, we understand the importance of managing stress levels, so we have these top tips to help you support an elderly loved one who may be experiencing stress.

Exercise

Exercise releases endorphins into our body, which makes us feel good. It is important to encourage your loved one to maintain an active lifestyle. This could be walks around our lovely grounds, or partaking in exercise suited to individual mobility. The NHS recommends being active for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week. This helps keep you healthy physically, but also has a positive impact on your mental health, and helps alleviate stress and anxiety.

Relaxation

Breathwork and mindfulness is a very important aspect of life here at The Dower House. It can help with pain management, aid in boosting your immune system and promotes positive emotions - all of which help reduce stress levels. If your loved one is stressed, sit with them and help them focus their breathing, reminding them of the importance of relaxation. You can find some useful suggestions in our previous article about breathwork here.

At The Dower House, residents enjoy a varied programme of activities focusing on wellbeing.

Staying social

When you are feeling stressed it is easy to isolate yourself from others. However a key part of managing stress is to remain social. This is why we run many different activities from arts and crafts to puzzles and games. This helps residents to interact with each other and forge friendships, creating a social circle for when families are not there in person. Regular contact with friends and families is another important way of preventing stress, whether that is in person or via technology such as messaging or video calls. Simply seeing and speaking to a loved one can do wonders for stress levels and mental well being.

Our ethos at The Dower House has always been centred around our residents’ health, happiness, and creating a sense of belonging. Our experienced team of friendly, committed staff, spend time with every resident each day and monitor their emotional wellness. If you would like some more information on The Dower House, or how you can help support a loved one, please get in touch.