Managing stress

Eating is normal and most of us enjoy food whilst normal eating habits vary enormously. Food becomes a problem when it is used to help cope with painful situations or feelings, or to relieve stress. Sometimes this occurs without the person even realising it. Not maintaining a stable weight or having a physical difficulty with eating or eating arousing distressing feelings are indicators that an eating disorder may be present or there may be a risk of one developing.

Pornography from the mildest to the most extreme is easily available on the internet to anyone who wants to find it. It can lure anyone who feels disconnected from regular support away from their normal sources of company into an addictive activity which can spiral out of personal control.

Burnout describes the state of emotional exhaustion often accompanied by physical exhaustion when someone is so worn out by stress that they are unable to function in everyday living. It is accompanied by an underlying disillusionment that threatens to take hold as cynicism, dissatisfaction and loss of meaning increase. It mainly strikes highly-committed, hard working and successful people. It can therefore hold a special fear for clergy who have a sense of vocation and care passionately about their work.

Being in a bad mood or feeling miserable from time to time is normal. It may be caused by stress at work or personal difficulties but it may just happen as part of day to day life. If your mood is persistently low, you can’t motivate yourself to do things you would normally do, you’re finding it difficult to concentrate or your thoughts have become persistently negative, you could have depression.

Finding the best way to maintain a healthy work-life balance is an empowering way to get the best from yourself at work and enhance your personal wellbeing. When neglected it is easy to succumb to external and internal pressures and become more susceptible to stress and burn out as well as physical symptoms. It is important to be able to observe and assess your ability to use work-life balance strategies. Implementing a range of work-life balance strategies will contribute to sustaining yourself so you can keep your energy flowing and keep yourself healthy in the long term.