Stress is a medical condition which if often misunderstood and stigmatized but is actually one of the most common health problems in the UK. Stress occurs when the amount of pressure you find yourself under surmounts your optimum point and becomes more than you can cope with. Be it pressure at work, in your relationships or financially stress can cause serious physical and mental health issues.

When facing the threat of repossession the three main pressure points are often tested at the same time. You may also feel like the pressure of your financial problems in the face of eviction are causing your usual pressure values to become blocked, for example where your relationships with family members and friends usual allow you to channel your stress these may now also be stress points themselves.

Stress can show itself in a number of ways, some common physical symptoms of stress include

- Increased irritability, often irrational

- Increased sensitivity to criticism at home or in the workplace

- Physical signs of tension, such as nail-biting

- Irregularities in your sleep pattern, in particular difficulty getting to sleep at night or out of bed in the morning

- Heightening of bad habits such as poor diet, smoking and drinking alcohol

- Indigestion and sickness

- Loss of concentration

If you think you may be suffering with stress its important to realise that you may have a medical condition. An impending repossession may seem like the most important and urgent thing for you to deal with but if any of the above sounds familiar it may be time for you to put your health first.

You are not alone

If you're facing the threat of repossession its easy to feel like you're taking on the world and its problems alone, but often this is not the case.

Think about the people around you who can offer you support. Not necessarily financially but emotionally. Friends and family are usually the first port of call for this but in many cases an outsider may be better placed to help you work through your problems.

If you think you may be suffering with stress professional help is available and your family doctor will be able to advise you. Organisations like the Samaritans can also provide emotional support if you feel you have nowhere else to turn to talk. It seems cliche but sharing your problems is often the first and best way to deal with stress.

Dealing with the problem at hand

If you are worried about facing eviction it may be the only thing on your mind. Despite this it's a typical reaction to stressful situations to not face up to your problems, instead ignoring the tasks which could bring you closer to a positive resolution such as seeking professional advice for your financial problems.

The important thing to remember when facing repossession is that you are not the first person to face these problems. In the current economic climate plenty of other homeowners are going through the same thing as you and help is available.

Start by making an action list of things you need to find out or do. Picking up the phone is often the first and biggest step but by getting some advice you may immediately relieve some of your stress as you stop worrying and start acting.