What is stress?
Stress is how our body reacts to challenges or demands in life. Whether it’s juggling work and family responsibilities or dealing with financial pressures, a little stress can sometimes help you stay focused and get things done.
But when stress lasts too long or feels overwhelming, it can start to affect your wellbeing.
For example, you might notice:
- Feeling irritable, anxious, or on edge
- Having difficulty sleeping, even when you’re exhausted
- Struggling to concentrate or make decisions
- Frequently having a racing heart, headaches, or tense muscles
- Getting sick more often or experiencing skin irritations like rashes.
Stress can build up when multiple pressures happen at once. It can make daily life feel harder and take the enjoyment out of things you usually like to do.
Figuring out what's making you stressed can help you find ways to manage it.
How does stress work?
When you feel stressed, your body is reacting to a threat - real or imagined. This triggers the fight, flight, or freeze response, which is your body’s way of protecting you.
- Fight: You might feel anger, frustration, or irritation, ready to push back against whatever is stressing you
- Flight: You may feel the urge to escape or avoid the situation, leading to restlessness, anxiety, or panic
- Freeze: You might feel stuck or unable to act, as if your body has ‘shut down’ to protect you from overwhelm.
This response is a survival instinct that helps in genuinely dangerous situations. But when everyday stressors like work, relationships, or finances keep triggering it, your body stays on high alert. Over time, this can leave you feeling drained and overwhelmed.
“I didn’t even realise I was in ‘flight mode’ until I stopped and took a breath. It was like my body was always reacting before my mind could catch up.”
What is burnout?
Burnout happens when stress doesn’t go away and you feel mentally and physically drained for a long time.
It’s often linked to ongoing pressures like work, study, caring for others, or feeling like you always have too much on your plate.
Signs of burnout can include:
- Feeling exhausted no matter how much you rest
- Losing motivation for things you used to enjoy
- Struggling to concentrate or feeling ‘numb’
- Feeling disconnected from people around you.
If you’re feeling the effects of burnout, help is available. You can explore strategies to try right now or find the long-term help for stress that's right for you.
When does stress become a problem?
If stress becomes overwhelming or lasts too long, it can lead to challenges like burnout, anxiety, and other health conditions.
You might need extra support if:
- You feel constantly tense or unable to relax, no matter what you try
- Stress is affecting your relationships, work, or daily life
- You’re turning to coping strategies that feel unhelpful like alcohol and other substances, gambling, restricting food, self-harm, or withdrawing from others
- Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue are getting worse or not improving
- You’re feeling hopeless, trapped, or having thoughts of suicide.
You don't have to face this alone.
If you're experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, Lifeline is here. You can connect with a crisis supporter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via 13 11 14, text, and chat. If life is in danger, call 000.
Everyone’s experience of stress is different, and what works for one person might not work for another.
The important thing is to keep trying until you find what feels right for you.
For more support resources for stress, you can:
- Learn about common causes and signs and effects of stress
- Find practical strategies to help you manage stress right now and in the long term
- Explore tools, apps, and real stories to help you cope with and manage stress
- Connect with a support service for further information, resources, and referrals.
Remember - small steps can make a big difference.
