Nutrition Edit

First dates, work presentations and making phone calls to strangers are among the top 30 most stressful situations in life, according to new research.

According to a new study exclusively commissioned and published by the Advance Nutrition Programme™ in a study of 2,000 UK adults, deadlines for work, bumping into an ex-partner and forgetting something important are the things which cause unnecessary distress.

But running late to something like an appointment or a meeting proved to be more traumatic than having a job interview.

Almost three quarters will avoid stressful situations (72 per cent), while half will deliberately put them off if they are already feeling anxious.

It emerged stress manifests itself in many ways, with more than half of adults becoming more irritable and 54 per cent feeling depressed.

Lacking sleep (45 per cent) and struggling to concentrate (36 per cent) are other side effects of stress, while two thirds admit their skin suffers, either by developing problem skin or dryness.

The study found other things likely to stress out Brits include worry about upsetting a friend, a disagreement with a partner or family problems.

Money and health top the list as the causes of worry, while others feel tense when there are tight deadlines coming up, they have to see people after lockdown, or accidentally liking someone’s old photo on social media.

But almost half of those surveyed by OnePoll said their stress is caused by lots of little things rather than one big thing.

Lorraine Perretta, Head of Nutrition at Advanced Nutrition Programme™, who commissioned the research, said: “Stress can be nerve wracking, exhausting, and motivating all at the same time. We have seen a rapid rise of ‘micro-stressors’ in the recent years and one thing is very clear – these have an impact on us both externally and internally. Stress can affect our health by triggering stomach issues and insomnia, but also causing skin problems, such as dryness and hyperpigmentation.”

And when the worry does kick in, 31 per cent of those who as a result suffer from skin issues believe they look more tired, 21 per cent get dark circles around the eyes and 15 per cent experience hyperpigmentation (uneven skin tone and dark spots).

Three quarters will then go on to feel even worse due to their irritated skin, although one in four will stop taking care of it during these periods.

And 28 per cent of women would try to cover up any problem skin with makeup when it occurs.

In addition to immediate effects on our wellbeing and mood, long-term stress generally impairs overall health, linked to weakened immunity, poor hormonal control and accelerated ageing. Commenting on the survey findings, Dr Gaby Prinsloo, Medical Director at International Institute for Anti-Ageing (iiaa), says:

According to the research, common strategies to combat stress include reading a book, gardening, talking to friends or family about it or spending time with a pet.

Other techniques include saying no to things, mindfulness, and even sex.

Although, only one quarter admitted to eating healthier food to tackle intense periods, as two in five are more likely to eat fast food instead.

“A comprehensive skincare plan can ameliorate stressed skin, but easing stress in general is vital for wellbeing,” adds Dr Gaby, recommending relaxing practices before sleep, regular exercise to boost serotonin levels in the brain, balanced diet and breathing exercises, as some of the first steps to reduce the feeling of stress.

THE TOP 30 MOST STRESSFUL EXPERIENCES ARE...

• Health problems
• Financial problems
• Family problems
• Running late
• Job interview
• Forgetting something important you had to do
• Not being able to get to sleep
• A disagreement with a partner
• Traffic
• Worrying you have upset a friend
• Tight deadlines
• Having to give a presentation (or virtual) at work
• Waking up late
• Forgetting what to say when doing a presentation
• Saying the wrong thing to a friend
• Driving on unknown roads
• Clothes not fitting
• Other people turning up late
• Making a phone call to a stranger
• Not knowing what to buy someone as a gift
• Problems with your skin
• Attending a meeting
• What to wear to an event
• Getting a stain on your clothes
• Bumping into an ex-partner
• Having accidentally double-booked social events
• Dating
• Seeing people post lockdown/socialising post lockdown
• Accidentally 'liking' an old photo on someone's social media
• What to wear as you have come out of lockdown /choosing post lockdown outfit