St John Ambulance Report

Stress…

Stress is a physiological process that occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands being made on us and the perceived resources, we have available to cope with those demands. This week has been particularly stressful for the Island. It is important for us all to remember that we have many resources inherent with our community to deal with the times that lay ahead. Sometimes, when we spend too much time worrying about what we don’t have, we overlook what may have been in front of us all along.

Stress may be caused by pressure to do something and fear you may fail. The more important the outcome, the more stressed you feel. You can feel stressed by practical situations, or you may feel stressed by just thinking about a situation in which you may find yourself uncomfortable, such as feeding 300 people.

Stress is not always a bad thing. Some people thrive on stress and even need it to get things done. When the term ‘stress’ is used in a clinical sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for a person and can lead to other mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression. Stress is a normal reaction to situations in which we find ourselves daily. Stress becomes problematic when resources we should be exerting on solving a problem are taken up worrying about the problem.

Stress may also contribute to physical illness such as cardiovascular disease. When stress turns into a serious illness, it’s important to get professional help as soon as possible. Untreated anxiety disorders can lead to serious depression. If you are feeling unwell and cannot figure out why, make an appointment to see a GP today. We are lucky to have an excellent support network on the Island to help us when things begin to unravel, like a loose thread, the sooner you get to it, the better.

For the full copy of the fact sheet,

https://www.betterhealth.vic.g...

With all that is going on, St John skill drills have been postponed, we are still there 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergencies.

If you are interested in becoming a St John volunteer or, for more information, please email norfolk.island@stjohnnsw.com.au or james.garden@stjohnnsw.com.au

Stay safe and be sensible.