What helps people stay well when the pressure at work does not let up?
For anyone whose work keeps the pressure on, and anyone who works alongside them.
PDF, 36 pages
In short
Staying Well Under Pressure (November 2026) is a practical guide by Sharon McDonagh. What helps people stay well when the pressure at work does not let up? Six pieces by a counsellor: on recognising burnout and anxiety, on managing stress, building resilience and redirecting unhelpful thoughts, and on supporting a colleague who is struggling. The last chapter lists services in the United Kingdom that offer support.
Contents
- Introduction
- Part IRecognising the signs
- 01Burnoutphysical, emotional and mental exhaustion
- 02Anxietya natural response to stress or perceived danger
- Part IIWhat helps
- 03How to overcome stress at workten strategies
- 04Resilience building techniquesten exercises
- 05Redirecting negative thought patternsyour brain notices what you tell it to look for
- 06Workplace well-beinghow to support a struggling colleague
- Where to find helpservices in the United Kingdom
Introduction
I work as a counsellor, and my core training is in person-centred counselling. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). In my practice, Changing Tides, I work with people facing anxiety, low self-esteem, grief and loss, and much more besides. What I try to offer each of them is a warm, genuine and non-judgemental space, where they feel safe to explore whatever is on their mind and to find their own way forward.
I first wrote these pieces for consultants: people who work long hours to tight deadlines, carry high client expectations, and often travel for work. That is why some of them speak to consultants directly. But the pressures they describe are not unique to consulting. Anyone whose work keeps the pressure on, and anyone who works alongside them, will recognise a good deal of it.
The question behind this book is a practical one: what helps people stay well when the pressure at work does not let up?
How this book is organised
The first part is about recognising the signs: how burnout and anxiety tend to build, and what to look out for before they take hold. The second part is about what helps: practical ways to manage stress, build resilience and redirect unhelpful thoughts, and how to support a colleague who is struggling. The last chapter, Where to find help, lists services in the United Kingdom that offer support, from a listening ear to urgent help.
The pieces can be read in any order. Different approaches work for different people, so take what helps you and leave the rest. None of this replaces professional support.
If you are struggling now, please talk to someone. In the United Kingdom, Samaritans answer the phone free on 116 123, at any time.