In 2018, ISMA UK established International Stress Awareness Week (ISAW) to raise awareness for
stress prevention, 20 years after they founded Stress Awareness Day. Taking place this week, from
7 th -11 th November, the movement additionally aims to reduce the stigma associated with stress and
mental health, attracting media attention worldwide. With the chosen theme this year being
‘Working Together to Build Resilience and Reduce Stress’, individuals and businesses are encouraged
to join forces to help deliver ISMA’s initiatives to tackle the issue head on. This week, ISMA members
in the UK and internationally will be actively engaging with businesses and individuals as well as
hosting workshops and presentations in local, and regional areas as well as globally to achieve
maximum outreach.
Unfortunately, stress isn’t an unfamiliar feeling for many as 1 in 14 UK adults feel stressed every
single day. From a scientific perspective, stress is a primordial response which activates the
amygdala, triggering a fight or flight reaction. Whilst this response was vital for our ancestors to
have as a means of survival when faced with life threatening situations, society today tells a
different story. Living in the 21 st century, we are prone to experiencing continued low levels of stress
over a prolonged period. Whether it’s our personal lives, workload, family responsibilities or
anything else, stress is immanent. But when stress levels become unmanageable, this can have a
detrimental impact on mental health and productivity. As shockingly, 51% of adults who felt stressed
reported feeling depressed whilst a staggering 61% reported feeling anxious as a result. The mental
crisis had rapidly grown in recent years but perhaps it’s time to change that.
Our solution? An app that combines all the senses to help manage stress levels and boost
productivity with a touch of mindfulness magic. One of the ways, the Zensory app can do this is
through the power of auditory illusions, known as binaural beats. They function by feeding two
different sounds into either ear with headphones whilst playing at different frequencies. Scientifically
speaking, when our brain wave states are activated (using binaural beats featuring alpha, beta, or
gamma waves) our mind can be boosted into a state of focus, relaxation, and creativity. The reason
this happens is that our minds are tricked into believing that we are listening to music between
the frequencies, as we’re not distracted by the highs and lows of music. This helps us to focus our
minds on the task at hand.
Interactive touch pads can also help our minds to destress and relax through the powerful sense of
touch. Skin is the largest organ of the body which makes it very sensitive to external stimuli. This
makes the sense of touch an especially powerful tool, as it aids our ability to relax, unwind and
destress. Doodling, swiping, and tapping can distract the mind from worrying thoughts, whilst
simultaneously stimulating the senses. This built-in feature also helps with focus and can provide a
creative outlet for thoughts, which may often feel blocked when we’re overwhelmed with stress.
Another mindfulness tool which is often underestimated is the simple act of breathing.
Abdominal breathing helps to control the nervous system, which lessens the body’s stress response
and helps us relax. The Zensory’s breathwork sessions are designed to help users relax, reduce
adrenaline and lower blood pressure. This feature is ideal for helping you get into the zone and then
zone out to unwind.
In support of International Stress Awareness week, we invite you to give mindfulness a go and join
us in our mission to promote better stress management.