Hug #162 Stress Awareness Month Part I: Developing Awareness

How embarrassing that I had no idea April is National Stress Awareness Month. Of course, I’m not a fan of the word, but I am a fan of helping people deal with this concept we call stress.I was walking Charlies this morning, thinking Oh I’ll just do 4 sessions about stress, that’s what I do, that’ll be easy! But it wasn’t. I’ve been speaking about stress for about 20 years, and today I felt a real burden to try a different approach.Today, Part I, isn’t about giving advice. Instead, it truly is about developing awareness and finding out where you are in your life. As I read the 2023 Stress in America report, this passage broke my hear:Around three in five adults (61%) said people around them just expect them to get over their stress. Nearly half (47%) said they wish they had someone to help them manage their stress. Some adults (36%) said they don’t know where to start when it comes to managing their stress, and a third (33%) said they feel completely stressed out no matter what they do to manage their stress. In fact, two-thirds of adults (66%) said that, in the last 12 months, they could have used more emotional support than they received, and around a quarter (26%) cited the need for a lot more support. More than two in five adults (44%) said they don’t feel anyone understands what they are going through, and more than half (52%) said they wish they had someone to turn to for advice and/or support.People feel lonely. Misunderstood. Helpless. Lost.So today isn’t bullet points or 3 steps or any other step-by-step formula. It’s about me sharing my heart and, hopefully, you opening yours! Take a listen and let me know how I can help you! All links in show notes at https://www.tamiwest.com/post/stress-awareness-part-i-developing-awareness.Thanks for joining!*Disclaimer:The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on our experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources mentioned in the show notes.General Resources National Alliance of Mental Illness: www.nami.orgMental Health America: mhanational.orgMental Health First Aid Resources: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/Celebrate Recovery: www.celebraterecovery.com/About AA: www.aa.org/Tami West, PhD Stress and Mental Health ExpertDr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.Connect with me:www.tamiwest.

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**The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help from a qualified professional. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for chat and resources.

General Resources
National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org
Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org
Mental Health First Aid Resources: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

About Tami & Michelle:
Michelle Kixmiller, PMHNP
Michelle is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Tami West, PhD
Stress & Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses research & fun to help transform your life.