Your stress container

Your stress container.

What is it?

The stress container represents where our everyday stress flows.

The size of the container depends on various factors, including difficult experiences.

If our vulnerability to stress is low, our container will be big.

The more of difficult issues there are, the smaller the container will be.

Think of the stress container like a funnel:

· The size of your container depends your vulnerability to stress

· The top is your actual container: the stress flows into that

· If your container overflow, problems develop

· The bottom of the container is where you are able to release your stress

· Imagine there is a tap attached to a valve

· You can open and close the tap as you wish depending on your coping strategies

Helpful strategies = tap working lets the stress out

Unhelpful strategies = tap blocked fills the container

Helpful coping method, such as making time for positive, valued experiences, getting rest, asking for help from others.

On the other hand, unhelpful coping methods, such working excessively long hours, self-medicating with alcohol, not getting enough sleep, can become addition stressors to fill the container, and subsequently block the tap.

Let’s remember that we all use unhelpful coping strategies from time to time…

They can be helpful in small doses or under different circumstances before becoming problematic; or they can be the only way we know to cope at the time.

Like any skills in life, it is possible to develop new coping strategies.

Here are few:

Self-belief

Confidence

Problem solving

Communication

Emotional literacy

Values

Meaningful activity

Social network

Housing environment

Physical activity

Nutrition

Rest

In the last 4 years, I have been learning to put in place coping strategies to let the stress out.

I can now manage challenging situations better; I make better decisions.

It has not been a quick fix.

And it has been taking time and dedication.

Well worth it and so rewarding.

Now it is time for you to do the exercise:

· Draw your stress container

· Write in your stress container what brings you stress, anxiety and worry.

· Check what strategies you can put in place to cope.

· Action your coping strategies

· Be consistent

I hope this tool is beneficial in supporting you to see what may contribute to continues stress, anxiety and worry.

Let me know if you need extra support.

Much love,

P

PS: I am Mental Health First Aider (MHFA England), feel free if you or anybody you know need support.