Fiona Phillips: “Embrace stress – it can be good for you!”
Whether you’ve woken up late or rushed to make the school run, chances are you’ve already encountered a stressful situation today. It’s been labelled “the health epidemic of the 21st century,” but after struggling to manage stress for years, 56-year-old T
i experienced Chronic stress...
“It was tough learning that both my mum, Amy, and dad, Phil, were battling Alzheimer’s at the same time back in the ’90s. They sadly died in 2006 and 2012 respectively. I had two young boys [Fiona is mum to Nathaniel, now 18, and Mackenzie, now 15] to look after and I was appearing on live TV every day. I was trying to keep a marriage and family going, travelling constantly to see them, as well as staying on top of my game for my job and getting up at 3.30am most mornings. With hindsight, I realise I had suffered a breakdown during that time. I had shingles and was exhausted and constantly irritable. It was madness but, thank goodness, it’s all behind me. People deal with pressure differently and my stress would go into overload. Even now I still struggle to see things clearly and prioritise.”
Mindfulness helped Me enormously...
“It’s easy to get angry when we’re stressed, but I have learned it’s all about being mindful – practise being in the moment and think positively – it can make a huge difference to your mental well-being. It’s important to take a breath and slow down sometimes. I’ve learned to take the positives from most situations.”
stress is there For a reason
“Stress is an animal reaction which helps us deal with danger and handle life’s challenges. When you feel stressed, adrenaline and the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol kicks in; then your body is more alert and knows what to do. It’s about learning to channel stress in the right way. My boys are studying for exams and I encourage them to sit down, embrace the challenge and take control. I make a revision plan so they don’t get overwhelmed. A bit of stress can in fact help to ‘spur’ them on, almost giving them an energy boost.”
don’t let it Consume You – deal with it
“If you let stress fester, you’ll end up being chronically stressed like I was, where you constantly feel overwhelmed, irritable, wound up, anxious, and even lacking in selfesteem. Sports stars are a great example of people coping with stress. They get mentally and physically stressed, but they channel that adrenaline into something powerful. It’s a big part of their preparation and something we can all learn form.”
Face Your Fears
“There are times when I wake up and struggle to face the day. Sometimes I don’t want to go out at night and my husband Martin will insist I do as it will make me feel better. I’ll tell him I can’t face it, but he forces me. It’s only then, once I’m surrounded by lovely friends, that I realise it was the right thing to do. Suddenly everything I’m worried about goes away and I wonder what I was at home beating myself up for.”