Stress Awareness Month is launched every April by the Stress Management Society. The aim of the month is to raise awareness of the causes and cures for stress. The theme of the 2022 month is Community.
Prolonged stress can manifest in different ways. It may be emotional, physical or behavioural, or a combination of all three. For example, if one is prone to pains, for example migraine or back pain, prolonged stress can cause flare ups. Indeed, strong evidence shows that stress and pain influence each other. Stress is frequently reported by individuals with acute and chronic pain. Stress can be a significant factor in sleep problems, as well as mental health problems including anxiety and depression. Since sleep and mental health problems can influence pain, stress can contribute to create a vicious cycle of pain for individuals.
- #EFIC2022 is fast approaching and a key theme is Comorbidites and Pain. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the relationship between stress, stress related conditions (e.g. anxiety, depression, sleep disorders), and pain, and how this can be tackled. For more information about the 2022 Congress, please visit https://efic-congress.org
- Stress isn’t avoidable but it is manageable. For example, Physical activity and exercise can help to reduce stress levels in people with pain. The European Pain Federation’s ‘On The Move’ campaign has extensive resources (available in 11 languages) to help individuals with pain participate in more physical activity/exercise.
To access detailed resources on how to manage stress, please visit the Stress Awareness Month website at https://www.stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month/
