5 ways to manage stress for those experiencing, or at risk of homelessness

Eoin Ryan, Head of Health, Wellbeing & Practice Development at Simon Community NI, suggests 5 ways to help you manage stress. 

Having somewhere to live that is safe, stable and affordable is something that most of us take for granted and see as a basic need. This sense of stability helps to maintain our health and well-being. However, for those who lack this stability the consequences can contribute to the development of mental health problems or they can make existing mental health problems worse.

‘Stress’ is a word that is over-used these days and is often used in the context of things that are mildly disconcerting or slightly uncomfortable. Being under pressure is a normal part of life. It can help you take action, feel more energised and get results. However, for those experiencing financial problems, relationship breakdown, poor health, coping with traumatic events, as well as having nowhere to live or being at risk of losing their home, it is easy to understand how you could become consumed by stress. This is the reality for many people who experience homelessness as there is rarely just one cause, it is often the accumulation of a number of factors.

When someone is attempting to deal with all of these factors at once it has the potential to cause a mental health crisis as it is overwhelming, so I would like to suggest some tips for managing stress and preventing it reaching crisis point.

1. What can I control and what is out of my control

Although there will probably be lots of things in your life that you can’t do anything about, there might still be some practical ways you could to resolve or improve some of the issues that are putting pressure on you. It’s not easy but accepting that there are some things happening to you that you probably can’t do anything about will help you focus your time and energy on those you can. This is a task that is often most effectively done with another person. This can be a friend, family member or a professional. They can help you reflect on what is and isn’t within your power to change and draw up a list a list of things you have to do. Arrange them in order of importance and try to focus on the most urgent first.