New findings show that Aussie women are suffering from high levels of stress, which concerns Lifeline, the national organisation that connects people with care by providing crisis support.
For the past five years, Lifeline has been conducting its Stress Poll, and the latest one show an upward trend of Australians who experience `a lot' of stress - and it's more so with women, at 50 per cent compared with 36 per cent of males.
"A particular concern of ours is women's stress levels," says Lifeline's director of communications and government relations, Chris Wagner.
Juggling work, children, family and finance is becoming harder for today's women, he says.
"One of the things I think women are very good at is multitasking, but unfortunately multitasking is actually adding to the stress.
"Our society needs to work better to ensure that women in our community can both have a family - and do those things of mums - while also being able to have a meaningful and successful career.
"And unfortunately, the way society is geared at the moment, doesn't actually provide that very well - and that is stressing women out."
We all need to better manage stress, says Wagner.
"Everybody gets stressed," he says.
"We need to recognise our stress, and we need to acknowledge that we are stressed and then we need to take steps to manage that stress.
"The best thing I can recommend to women and to men too, is to be mindful.
"Mindfulness is a very powerful tool. Recognise what you can do something about, and then do something about it. And recognising what you can't control - and not worrying about that."
Wagner also talks about an issue that he believes women are more vulnerable to than men - "thought attack".
This is when people put themselves under more stress by thinking things over and over and over - which inhibits sleep.
Former Australian Olympic swimmer Matt Welsh says as he can see many people becoming desensitised to stress.
As a Bupa Health and wellness ambassador, Welsh acknowledges that stress is a good thing, but we need to learn to control it.
"Women are probably more aware of it," Welsh says. "A lot of men probably don't admit to it, but one of the big keys to everyone is to be able to turn it on and off."
Stress is a good thing and it can lift us to another level, says Welsh, who likes to use a rubber band analogy.
"A rubber band with no stress is just a bit of rubber and doesn't do anything. And a rubber band that is stretched too much will break, but a rubber band under tension is doing its job, achieving something.
"Stress is a good thing, it's just the negative effects of it."
People under too much stress are risking their health, says Welsh. Stress causes a higher heart rate, higher blood pressure, stops digestion and stops the healing process.
Welsh says his best way of controlling stress is to get out of the house with his children.
He also likes to turn off his mobile phone at night - only checking it once or twice.
Lifeline and Bupa have called for a larger focus on stress management education.
"A simple first step to managing stress is identifying the source, as people tend to stress about being stressed," Welsh says.
"If you can find the source of your stress, you not only reduce its effects, but can identify whether there's a need to seek help."
Wagner, meanwhile, points out that materialism and technology have in many ways also contributed to stress.
"It's wanting that big TV and then getting it on interest-free for 24 months - there are a lot of incentives for us to get into debt."
He says people need to learn to switch off from technology more often.
"We can all take simple measures to reduce our stress levels, from getting a good night's sleep to making some time for exercise.
"Australians should be taking steps towards a better understanding of stress management and building resilience."
Stress Tips
1. Talk to someone - share the experience with a friend
2. Visit your doctor
3. Eat well, particularly fruit and vegetables. Cook a meal and don't order takeaway
4. Exercise. Walk, move, get the blood flowing
5. Get some sleep - if you can't sleep because you're thinking about something over and over again, write the issue down on a piece of paper and it sends a message to the brain that moves it from the `action' part of the brain to the `later' part of the brain. And that should help yourself stop thinking about it and get to sleep
6. Do something you enjoy - gardening, painting, hobby, re-arrange a cupboard or a room. If your house is a shambles it is a reflection of your mind. If your house is organised, you will feel better.
7. Switch off, play with your kids, walk around the block, go to the park for some fresh air.
If you feel you are suffering from stress visit www.stressdown.org.au.
By Julia Carlisle
