Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It's very common, can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work and family life.

But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem. Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period of time can also lead to a feeling of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often called burnout.

This bitesize session will help you understand what stress is and why some of it is necessary to help you get through the day. You’ll learn about how someone might react when under stress and you’ll start to learn to identify your own signs and symptoms.

We will also review destructive ways you might be using to manage stress, so that you can be more aware of those behaviors in yourself. Finally, I’ll share a toolbox of effective stress management techniques that will aid you in squashing tension as soon as it begins.