HALF of Australia is so stressed out that it is making us sick, according to an annual poll taken for the past four years.
Lifeline spokesperson Brendan Maher said the problem is growing every year with 93 per cent of 1201 respondents said to be stressed as compared to 90 per cent in 2010.
"This year we can put some of it down to the natural disasters affecting our nation, but much of it will be due to poor stress management," he said.
Supporting partner Bupa said the poll identified work as the number one stresser and research that they have done have backed this claim.
5 tips for combating everyday stress are:
1. Get active: exercise programs have been proven to help reduce anxiety and exercising for as little as 30 minutes a day, as recommended in the National Physical Activity Guidelines, may help to combat stress while keeping you in good physical condition.
2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet: a healthy diet is one of your best tickets to good health. Good health means one less thing to stress about.
3. Get good, quality sleep: lack of sleep affects both our mental performance and our mood. Bupa Healthwatch research found that sleep-deprived people reported feeling more stressed, sad, angry, mentally exhausted and less optimistic about their lives as a whole.
4. Stop smoking and limit caffeine: Nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee, cola and energy drinks are stimulants that may increase your stress levels.
5. Be smart about how much alcohol you drink: it's likely that drinking too much may negatively affect how well you perform, increasing the stress you're under.