Am I Just Stressed Or Should I be Concerned About My Mental Health?

We all experience stress from time to time but, generally, most people have been lucky enough to be able to take their mental health for granted, however, with the world – and our lives – having become increasingly stressful it’s important to be able to recognise when your mental health is at risk.

Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty and staunch advocate for mental health awareness, says: “Stress is a natural and temporary reaction to external triggers and, in small doses, it can be very beneficial in that it motivates us to reach goals and accomplish tasks more efficiently.

“But, whilst stress typically resolves as life events change, a mental health issue is a condition rather than a reaction and it can be very debilitating, interfering with a person’s ability to carry out daily functions.

“There are clear distinctions between them but symptoms do overlap, so it’s very important to be able to recognise what you’re experiencing, especially nowadays when there is an increased likelihood that stress can become chronic and lead to mental health issues.”

It’s unsurprising that more South Africans are now under an enormous amount of stress than ever before – not only have they just emerged from a two-year of a global pandemic, they now face a sharply rising cost of living and record unemployment levels – which are all exacerbated by an energy crisis.

In a recent Daily Maverick survey on how readers were surviving Stage 6 load shedding when it was implemented on 18 September, many reported that rolling blackouts were taking a mounting toll on their mental health as it impacts every aspect of their lives, including their income and financial future.

And, with lowest Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) score of 46%, the latest Mental State of the World Report conducted in 34 countries, has identified South Africa as the lowest-ranked country based on mental wellbeing, which is a significant drop from 56% in 2020. 

“We also topped the list as the country with the highest percentage of people who are either ‘distressed’ or ‘struggling’ so it’s very clear that a mental health crisis is brewing and cannot be ignored,” says Geffen.

“The body’s stress response was not made to be continuously engaged, and when someone is under chronic and prolonged stress, it begins to negatively affect their physical and mental health.

“The two are inextricably linked and long-term stress can lead to depression and poor mental health in general so it’s essential to learn how to recognise and manage stress before it becomes a serious issue.”

Some of the warning signs of stress include:

• Inability to concentrate or complete tasks
• Trouble falling asleep or staying awake
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Memory problems
• A change in eating habits
• Feeling angry or irritable
• Having trouble functioning at work
• Getting sick often
• Headaches and body aches

The following can be signs of depression if experienced for at least two weeks:

• Feeling sad and hopeless
• Withdrawing from other people
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Anger and rage
• Eating more or less than usual
• Sleeping more or less than usual
• Lack of energy and motivation
• Feeling restless, agitated, and irritable
• Feeling bad about yourself or feeling guilty
• Suicidal thoughts

“What’s critical is to be able to recognise the signs of stress and to be able to react quickly to manage and overcome them and the best way to do this is to have coping mechanisms in place,” says Geffen.

The development manager at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) Fatima Seedat, recommends the following coping strategies:

• Establish a daily practice to start or end your day, whether it be journalling, yoga, meditation, exercise and deep breathing.

• Know when to reach out: when you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that reaching out and speaking to someone will help you gain a different perspective. You could also consult with a mental health professional like a psychologist or psychiatrist.

• Social support is important, especially through support groups like Sadag which has specialised support groups available nationally, face to face and online.

• Learn to make a to-do list and delegate tasks: once you allocate daily goals for yourself and those working under your leadership, the stress feels less.

• Integrate healthy lifestyle habits: healthy eating and sleeping habits, exercising and taking time out are very important.

Geffen also suggests the following practices to bring your stress down to a healthy level or cope with depression and says that although you might not feel like it, it’s important that you force yourself as it WILL make a difference.

• Exercise – Physical activity releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain which also improve your ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress.

• Laugh – Laughter really is the best medicine as it decreases stress hormones and releases endorphins to promote an overall sense of wellbeing.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and drugs – Many people turn to alcohol, coffee or drugs for temporary relief from stress but, in the long term, they’ll only make your problems worse.

• Regulated sleep – Establishing a bedtime routine is essential for mental and physical wellbeing. Arianna Huffington, the renowned sleep evangelist, recommends that we all make sleeping for a minimum of eight to nine hours our number-one priority in order to function optimally.

• Use breathing exercises – Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to the brain and triggers the body’s relaxation response, which promotes a state of calmness. Meditation is also a wonderful relaxant and it’s easier than you think with apps like Head Space and Calm available to guide you.

• Find an accountability and support partner – Whether it be a friend, family member or a colleague; someone who can listen and support you in your moments of despair as well as celebrate your small victories.

• Change your immediate location – Whether it’s getting up and going for a quick walk with the dog, grabbing a coffee at your local coffee spot or visiting a friend, a change of scenery has proven to have tremendous benefits when feeling depressed.

• Animal therapy – It’s well-known that owning a pet can reduce stress in multiple ways including reducing our blood pressure. Spend quality time with your furr kids and if you are unable to keep pets, you could try equine therapy or visit animals at a shelter who always need love and attention and to be walked.

• Volunteer – Helping others in need helps to put your problems in perspective. So, the more you give, the less stressed you’ll feel.

Geffen says that although we are all responsible for our own health, employers need to understand that now, more than ever, a healthy and supportive workplace culture is critical to employee’s wellbeing.

“There is a growing need for companies to take mental health seriously and for businesses to realise that employee wellbeing affects more than just medical costs – there’s a direct correlation between a holistically healthy workforce and a productive workforce.”

“At Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, we’ve partnered with a corporate wellness solution called Panda which is a mental health care app that is on a mission to provide ‘the right care, at the right time’.

“In other words, Panda aims to provide quality, accessible and appropriate care along the mental health continuum in such a way that users craft and take ownership of their own mental health journey.

“We’ve aligned with Panda in taking a proactive approach where users are able to gain access to assessments, counselling and life skills content that naturally leads to higher qualities of life and in turn increased productivity in the workplace.”