A new survey has revealed that many people suffer with stress on a regular basis, with the lead-in to Christmas a big reason for stress at this time of the year.
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56% claim they feel more stressed in the run up to Christmas time and this rises to 62% among females and the same among those aged 35-54
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Parents find Christmas time particularly stressful
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64% claim that they feel stressed weekly or more often. This rises to 8 in 10 among those aged under 35, this is also more prominent among females
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One in four claim they feel stressed at least once a day. This rises to 34% among those aged under 35
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Running is claimed to be the top activity to alleviate stress, which is more popular among males and under 35s
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Money is the most cited cause of stress, with nearly 8 in 10 (78%) claiming it causes them stress. This is more common among those aged under 55. Family life causes more stress for females or those aged between 35-54. And health issues cause more stress among the 55+ age cohort
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Stress affects mood for over 7 in 10 (71%), particularly among females (77%), it disturbs sleep for over 6 in 10 (61%), particularly among females (68%)
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Multivitamins and vitamin D are most popular for managing stress, with Probiotics being taken by 11%.
The survey by Zenflore of over 1,000 adults shows that two out of three (64%) people feel stressed weekly or more often, with one in four being affected at least once a day. This rises to one in three among the under 35 age group. Six in ten people say stress disturbs their sleep, while 71% of those surveyed said it affects their mood. Isolation and a lack of focus were among some of the other common side effects.
Commenting on the findings, Cork based GP Dr Phil Kieran says that a third of his patients currently visiting the surgery are coming with stress related issues and this is exacerbated at Christmas time.
“Christmas is a great time of year for many, but a huge cause of stress for others, and that can sometimes get lost in the festive messaging. We see a lot of patients presenting with stress or stress related symptoms in November and December – many of those are females or parents of young children, where the financial pressures of Christmas, and the need to get everything organised in time for the holidays can be significant. Sometimes too, we see patients who have personal reasons for disliking Christmas, such as grief or estrangement from loved ones, and they can feel societal pressure to enjoy the season even if it causes them sadness. This can be really stressful and we would encourage anyone struggling at this time of the year to seek help, and talk to your GP.”
Sleep expert Tom Coleman said once the festive season arrives, sleep can often take a back seat: “Consistency is important when it comes to a good sleep, and in the lead up to Christmas, routine can go out the window for several reasons. Often people have more parties and social events to attend, others are really busy preparing for visitors or the all important arrival of Santa. A lack of sleep goes hand in hand with stress – The same systems that control sleep also control or regulate stress. If you find you’re sleep deprived in the run up to Christmas, perhaps it’s a good idea to look at ways of reducing stress and seeing how you can ease your own pressures and workloads. Cutting back on alcohol and rich foods close to bedtime will help too.”
Other causes of stress include health issues, working life, partners and friends. One in three people said social media sometimes causes them stress, with this rising to almost half among under 35s.
Running has been cited as the best way to combat stress, and this is particularly popular among males under 35. Other popular exercises to boost mood include mediation, cycling and yoga. Multivitamins and Vitamin D are the most popular stress boosting supplements while just over one in ten people take a probiotic.
