DOCTORS have warned Swindon residents not to bottle up work worries and stress.

The message comes as health services across the country mark Stress Down Day today – a day devoted to focussing on stress in the workplace and money worries.

Swindon and Wiltshire’s Mental Health Partnership is says that a problem shared is a problem halved and are encouraging stressed-out workers to share their worries with friends, colleagues or loved ones in a bid to alleviate their concerns.

Dr Bill Jerrom, director of psychology at Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, said: “Stress is a very real health problem and is one of the highest contributing factors to lost days at work.

“Stress is basically when the person has to deal with more tasks and challenges than they have the capacity to deal with.

“It’s very much a system overload and among other things it can cause a change in behaviour, loss of sleep and a change in eating habits.”

Dr Jerrom says that the current economic climate is a contributory factor to stress with employees constantly worrying about possible redundancies, the financial implications and possible repossessions resulting from job losses.

“My advice to people suffering from stress is to talk to someone about it.

“Women are a lot better at opening up than men as our culture raises men to be less emotional, so my advice to men in particular is to share your concerns.

“Also, don’t drink or smoke more than usual and continue to eat a healthy, balanced and regular diet. “Exercise is also a great way to relieve stress as it helps to work off and excrete stress hormones that would overwise linger for long periods of time.”

Anyone worried about theirs or someone else’s stress can find out more about how to alleviate it at www.awp.nhs.uk or by asking at their local GP surgery.