May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing world, it’s more important than ever to keep an eye on our mental health. Yet, it’s often the first thing we sideline when life gets busy — between work, family responsibilities, and everything else fighting for our attention.
Now is the time to slow down and truly listen to what our inner dialogue and bodies are trying to tell us.
All of us experience stress — none of us are immune. From a toddler adjusting to daycare to a CEO managing hundreds of employees and an unforgiving bottom line, there are countless things that can keep us up at night. Typically, stress is temporary and, with the right tools, not only manageable but even motivating.
But sometimes this quiet, insidious pressure can build into something more toxic, like anxiety, depression, or burnout.
Let’s take a few minutes to pause, self-reflect, and see where we are on the scale.
This is not a diagnostic tool. It’s simply meant to offer insight into your emotional and mental well-being — and help you walk the line between using practical tools and recognizing when it’s time to seek professional support.
When Stress is Normal
Stress is part of everyday life. It’s how our body responds to challenges, change, and pressure. In small doses, stress can be very helpful – motivating us to meet deadlines, rise to challenges, or push through tough times. Your heart might race a little, you have the urge to get up and get moving. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some of the signs of typical, manageable stress are:
- Temporary feelings of worry, tension, or irritability
- Trouble focusing here and there
- Short-term changes in appetite or sleep
- Mild physical symptoms like a headache or tense shoulders
Taking advantage of stress to reach our goals is an excellent strategy, but the key is knowing when it’s short-term and manageable and when it’s turned into something more serious.
When Stress is “Something More”
There’s a big difference between feeling stressed for a few days and living under constant emotional weight. When stress sticks around, lingers for weeks, or starts interfering with your quality of life, it might be more than just a rough patch.
The Mayo Clinic notes that chronic stress can contribute to — or even disguise — mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, and burnout.
Here are a few red flags to look out for:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or social activities
- Constant fatigue, even after rest
- Difficulty making decisions or staying focused
- Lingering physical symptoms (like headaches or stomach pain) with no clear cause
These signs point to more than just overwhelm. They’re a signal that your mental health might need more attention — and that you deserve support.
What Are You Really Feeling?
Not sure whether what you’re going through is regular stress or something more serious? Let’s go through a brief self-assessment that would help you clarify if you could benefit from a stress management course like JOY’s acclaimed CPD-accredited BYOC program or if you need more intensive one-on-one sessions to help you navigate this tough time.
Ask yourself:
- How long have I felt this way? Is it a passing phase, or has it lasted for two weeks or more?
- Is it affecting my life? Are work, relationships, or daily tasks being impacted?
- What physical signs am I noticing? Am I experiencing persistent headaches, fatigue, or stomach issues?
- What’s happening emotionally? Do I feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or numb?
- How am I coping? Am I relying on unhealthy habits like alcohol, overeating, or overworking to escape?
Consider reaching out to a mental health provider or experienced wellness coach if:
- Your symptoms persist or worsen over time
- Routine tasks feel unbearable and increasingly difficult
- You experience thoughts of self-harm or hopelessness
- Usual coping strategies no longer bring you relief
Seeking help is not weakness – it shows strength and self-awareness.
The Power of Journaling
Writing down your thoughts and feelings is often an overlooked yet extremely powerful tool. It gives you the ability to purge your negative emotions, untangle your thoughts, declutter your mind, and regain control over the chaos. According to the American Psychological Association, journaling can reduce anxiety and promote emotional clarity.
Here are some useful prompts to help you sift through your stressors and emotions:
Step 1: Identify Your Stressors
- What are the top three stressors in my life right now?
- Are they short-term, long-term, or within my control?
Step 2: Reflect on Your Reactions
- What emotions and physical sensations do I associate with each stressor?
- Have I faced something similar before? How did I handle it?
Step 3: Explore Your Next Step
- What is one action I can take to feel more grounded?
- Who can I talk to or rely on right now?
Step 4: Reframe Your Perspective
- What personal strengths or past successes can I draw on?
- If a friend came to me with this problem, what would I say to them?
This exercise will not solve your problems all at once, rather, it allows you to make space for smaller, more meaningful shifts that will culminate in a change of perspective and coping mechanisms.
Another great tool to help you keep track of how you’re feelings on the go is out Journal to JOY all available both for Android and iOS. This app can help you manage your emotions, journal your experiences, conduct your very own self-assessment to stay on top of your wellbeing, and many more tools are designed to help support you and guide you as you navigate your daily life.
Final Thoughts
Stress is part of life, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Whether you’re managing a tough week or noticing signs of something deeper, checking in with yourself is a powerful step.
You don’t have to navigate it all alone. Whether it’s through a journaling practice, a self-guided course, or professional support, help is out there — and healing is possible.
You deserve to feel better. Start your journey with JOY today!
References
American Psychological Association. (2001, September). Keep a diary, improve your health. Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/sep01/keepdiary
American Psychological Association. (2018). Writing about emotions may ease stress and trauma. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2018/writing
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Mental illness – Diagnosis and treatment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Stress. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress