Living in this day and age, stress is a normal part of modern life. You will be exposed to some sort of stress every day, whether it?s waking up to an alarm, driving the car, paying bills, working, meeting deadlines ? all of these can take their toll. Sometimes stress can be so overwhelming, it feels like it is taking over your life. Thankfully, the body has an amazing, protective stress response system to help you cope. The stress response was historically designed to kick in to save your life; nowadays, your stress response is being activated every day rather than just when you come into contact with a hungry sabre tooth tiger! However, this ongoing activation by your nervous system can lead to symptoms of stress and mood disorders that are becoming increasingly common. Recognising the Signs of Stress?? Depending on the type of stress and how long you have been experiencing it, you may be familiar with some of these signs and symptoms that can occur in acute (short-term) stress or with ongoing stress. Signs of acute stress ? Muscle tension ? Increased heart rate ? Sweating ? Energy fluctuations ? Alertness ? Sleep disturbances

• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Worrying
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Poor concentration
• Weight loss or gain

Getting the Right Tools

When you are under stress, your overworked stress response system requires even more nutrients than usual. This is because your body needs vitamins and minerals to produce the hormones and neurotransmitters (the brain?s messengers) required to adapt to the stress and bring the body back into balance. ? B group vitamins: B vitamins are needed for healthy mood, motivation and wellbeing. They are vital for producing energy, as well as the neurotransmitters that promote happiness, relaxation and sleep. ? Magnesium: When you are stressed, your body may require more magnesium than normal. Magnesium can be beneficial for many things including managing stress and improving energy. You may also know that magnesium is used as a muscle relaxant. Due to its relaxing qualities, it may improve mood and sleep. Ask your

Setting Up the Foundations