September Stress Buster Newsletter

..stress survival tips for back to work or school

Enjoying your summer? Glad its almost time for the Kids to go back to school?
Well if you’re feeling a bit sluggish because you didn’t get a proper break (or that you had terrible weather like we have been having in London) we have some suggestions to help you cope.

Visualise your stress away

Harness the power of the brain to help you de-stress. Here are two tried and tested exercises for kids and adults alike:

• Goo! Imagine your stress is a thick green goo and it’s all over your body. As you touch it, it peels off quite easily. So start rubbing the goo off your body and watch as it falls to the floor. Then get an imaginary broom and sweep it out of your imaginary door with a decisive imaginary flourish!
  Benefits: helps you visualise stress as a physical substance and gives you a strategy to remove it. Also leaves your skin tingling with life after stimulating the millions of nerve endings in the skin.


• Slap! Hold out your arm and imagine that all the stress in your body is suddenly drawn to your outstretched hand. See it growing into a big ball filled with stress. And then – SLAP – clap your hands together suddenly to burst the stress ball and see the pieces just fly away, never to return.
  Benefits: This sudden action helps you change your mood. The unexpected movement is called a ‘pattern interrupt’ and literally interrupts the brain’s thought pattern and resets how you feel. Sort of like giving yourself a good old shake!

Switch on your own sunshine

It’s not been much of a summer, has it? And we’re worried. The nation hasn’t had its proper supply of Vitamin D which you get when your skin is exposed to the sun. Without it, people can start to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD which causes feelings of depression and negativity. We have ensured that we are not lacking in Vitamin D because we have a SAD lamp which artificially creates sunlight in our office and restores us all to being happy bunnies. So if you didn’t see enough sunshine this summer, you’re welcome to pop round for half an hour and sit near our lamp – or you could get your own for your desk or living room.

See http://www.feelkarma.com/products/149. We swear by it!

Summer Training Offer

We would like to offer you our training workshops on stress management, personal growth and team building at a very special summer promotional rate on the understanding that you book and pay for the event before the before 13th September 2009.

The following courses are offered:

• Health and Wellbeing at Work
• Developing a winning Team
• Stress Management
• Visualisation Skills to improve business performance
• Various Team building activities

We guarantee that once your staff has been through these awareness creating seminars, they will be able to help themselves and others to combat the first symptoms of stress thus reducing sick absence and improving staff retention, staff coherence and business performance.

• 2 hour workshop for up to 35 participants - £497 plus VAT
• ½ day workshop for up to 35 participants - £997 plus VAT
• 1 day workshop for up to 35 participants - £1,597 plus VAT

(Exclusive of travel & accommodation expenses for onsite training outside Greater London – we offer our programmes throughout Europe and the Middle East).

Contact Jetcy on 0844 357 8639, or email info@stress.org.uk to take advantage of our offer!

Grants and Subsidies available for Stress Management Support

Our new executive programme is designed for senior professionals and business owners to provide the support needed to manage stress and improve health and wellbeing in these challenging times. Business success is dependent upon on the skills and leadership of its owners - investing in this leadership will help to achieve goals and help reach optimum levels of performance.

With the knowledge that many businesses are not investing (or not investing enough) in training, coaching or leadership support we are pleased to announce that those participating in this scheme will be eligible to a sizeable grant towards the cost of the programme.

Learn more on our website http://www.stress.org.uk/Executive-Stress-Management-Programme.aspx

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Saturday 10th October 2009

Originally beginning on 10th October 1996 as the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), the aim was to promote the underlying issues surrounding mental health advocacy.
Mental Health is on the increase, with many taking their own lives, or being admitted into psychiatric hospitals. It affects us all, worldwide.
There will be a number of events and activities taking place in October, so find out from your local councils what they will be doing this year for World Mental Health Day.

Our activities will be taking place in our home town of Harrow, West London - if you are able to get to Harrow on the 10th and are interested in joining in our activities please contact dee@stress.org.uk

National Stress Awareness Day

Wednesday 4th November 2009

Are you doing your bit for National Stress Awareness Day?
1 in 5 people suffer from work place stress. Take action today and your company will quickly realise the benefit!

We have some suggestions on how you can mark the day in your organisations:

Get our therapist in to run desk yoga or desk massage session.

Have our health consultants run a stress testing/lifestyle coaching day for your staff.

Publicise the day with branded wellbeing products – have a look at www.stressmoodcards.com for more details.

Let us create a tailor made, fun and interactive wellbeing day for you – email us on: info@stress.org.uk or alternatively call us on: 0844 357 8639 and talk to us about how we can support and prepare you for National Stress Awareness Day.

Reader competition

This month we are running a competition to give 5 lucky readers a chance to win a recently published book: “Stress: The Essential Guide”

Every year over 13 million working days are lost in the UK due to stress and stress-related symptoms, and experts believe it affects everyone seriously at least once every two weeks. Instead of letting the stress take over, there are positive steps you can take to minimise its detrimental effects.

Frances Ive’s informative book, Stress - The Essential Guide tackles this issue head on – whether your stress is at work or at home. Its easy-to-read style shows you what to do in extreme circumstances of stress, how to minimise the pressure you put on yourself and where to get further help and support.  Relaxation strategies, complementary therapies and exercise plans are also included.

For more information or to buy the book please click on the following link http://www.feelkarma.com/products/1872.

To have an opportunity to win this book, please email us your top summer stress reduction idea to stephanie@stress.org.uk by 11th September 2009 with Stress Guide in the subject bar.
Please be sure to include your name, telephone number and address.  Good luck!

Membership scheme

We are proud to officially re-launch our membership scheme. If you are a stress management professional, complementary alternative medical practitioner, management consultant who deals with workplace stress/wellbeing issues or any other professional that deals with stress/wellbeing issues you may be able to join The Stress Management Society and help us in our mission to reduce the impact of stress to society.

For more information, or if you are interested in becoming a member please visit the following link: http://www.stress.org.uk/Join-us.aspx

Ask a question

We now have a new page running on our website to help people tackle stress through our advice and information. So, if you are stressed and not sure who to turn to for advice, ask ‘Dee Stress’ our resident stress expert a question and we will endeavour to respond to your question within 7 days. We will also publish (anonymously) a selection of questions in our monthly newsletter.

For more information or to ask Dee Stress a question, please click on the following link: http://www.stress.org.uk/Ask-a-question.aspx

Technological breakthrough to reduce stress

Alpha-stim SCS

The Alpha-Stim SCS represents a major breakthrough in Stress Management that is so successful in the US that in 2008 the website was given the prestigious Award for distinction and Innovation by the American Institute of Stress. It is a precision medical instrument that is clinically proven and FDA approved for the treatment of Stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia. This treatment is non-invasive and drug free and unlike some drugs, the Alpha-Stim SCS leaves the mind alert.

In a recent survey of 123 patients 95% reported a significant reductionin their stress levels and as Michael Hutchison, author of the book Megabrain, reports after using the SCS, "I couldn’t help but feel that this is the way were supposed to be all the time".

For more information on the Alpha-stim SCS or to purchase please click on the following link: http://www.feelkarma.com/products/1873

EVENTS DIARY

Survive the stress of caring for kids!

Saturday 5th September – 2pm to 4pm

Driven crazy by your kids (or by someone else’s, come to that)? Whether you’re a parent or a childcare professional, you’ll know the stress of looking after little ones. You’re tense, tired and seldom have time to relax. Come and learn how to cope with The Stress Management Society. Aimed at mothers, fathers, guardians, child carers and child minders.
£29 per person or book with a friend for £50 and receive a free stress squeezer each.

Please call 0844 357 8639 or visit http://www.feelkarma.com/products/1736 to book.

Feel Karma Stress Management Workshop

Saturday 19th September – 10am to 4pm

Learn stress management techniques including ‘office’ yoga and massage, self hypnosis, breathing techniques and creative visualisation. An uplifting workshop at a discount price. Single ticket price £149, price for 2 tickets £225.
Click here for details.

Feel Karma Self Hypnosis Workshop

Saturday 17th October – 10am to 4pm

Self hypnosis is a practical tool to get more out of life, from weight loss to deep relaxation. Learn how on this workshop at£129 per person
Click here for details.

Evening workshops

Feel Karma Stress Gym Workshop

Thursday 10th September – 7pm – 9pm

The 'Feel Karma' stress management gym teaches some very natural ways to deal with unnatural levels of stress. For example: the breathing technique that makes it impossible to be unhappy, the 10-minute relaxation method that equals three hours’ sleep and why you should always keep a spare sock in your desk drawer in case of stress 'emergencies'! Now at a reduced rate of £39 each or book with a friend and get it for £30 each. Please call: 0844 357 8639 or visit http://www.feelkarma.com/products/223 for more information or to book.

NEW!! - Walk Innovation Walkshop

Monday 14th September, 6pm-7.45pm, Regents Park

If you knew that you only had one month left to live, how would your priorities change?
Come to our Walk Innovation Walkshop and we will help you to:

• Focus on what is working in your life – rather than what isn't
• Walk your talk – rather than sitting down and pondering things
• Meet inspiring, positive and happy people – who will pass on their gifts to you

Our Walkshop is literally a walking workshop. The process of walking energises your learning experience. Our Walkshop is an experience of living in the moment.

Ticket: £15 per person. However, we do have a special 3-for-2 offer running. For more information or to book please visit: http://www.feelkarma.com/products/1877 or call: 0844 357 8629.

Have a wonderful, stress-free month and look out for our next newsletter soon!

Love life and smile!

The Stress Management Society
info@stress.org.uk
http://www.stress.org.uk
http://www.feelkarma.com
http://www.stressmoodcards.com