There are many things you can do to help yourself, from changing the way you look after yourself - your diet, exercise, leisure and sleep patterns - to changing the way you think about yourself, your job, your relationships.
If you are under stress you may become anxious or tense which can add to the original stress. Finding some way to de-stress yourself can help to cut through this 'winding-up'. Even just stopping for ten minutes a day to breathe slowly and deeply can help. Or spending time on your own - reading, walking, or listening to music. There are several relaxation tapes available, or classes such as yoga classes.
When you are feeling stressed it can be hard to feel enthusiastic about other things, but it might help to find a new interest or hobby, especially if this involves a group of other people. These will be publicised in the local paper or on library or shop notice boards, or as evening classes at the local college.
Although you may feel lacking in energy, getting out for a walk will actually increase your energy levels and will also counter depression. Joining a club will bring you into contact with other people as well, and it could be any sport from bowls to squash. You can also walk in company. The Walking the Way to Health website has a 'Walk finder' page to give you your nearest group contact.
Stress can leave you too harassed to eat properly, or too depressed to care what you eat. But what you eat can have a great effect on how you feel and eating well is part of looking after yourself. There is lots of good advice available about a healthy balanced diet - for example you could check the Healthy Balance section of the Rural Wellbeing website.
You may find it difficult to get to sleep, or will wake up very early. Try and make time to relax before going to bed, and get into a regular routine of times for going to bed and getting up. Identify what is worrying you and 'put it in its place' i.e. decide that you cannot solve it overnight but will look at it tomorrow.
The stress you feel may be a result of external factors that you don't feel you can change, in which case you might find it useful to contact one of the organisations listed on the 'need help near you?' page. But you may be able to make changes yourself, in the way you work, or how you get on with other people, or how you organise your time.
More detailed information about self-help can be found in publications such as the 'Mind Guide to Managing Stress'.
All of the ideas above are ways in which you can help yourself, but it is also very helpful to talk to someone else. This could be a friend, a family member or your doctor, or it could be one of the organisations that specialise in supporting people with stress. If you find it difficult talking directly to someone you can contact some of these organisations by email or post. The 'need help near you?' page of this website lists the organisations working in your area and tells you how to get in touch with them.