written by Rachel Newcombe, Bupa health news reporter
Daily commuting can prove an unpleasant chore for some people, especially when trains are delayed and overcrowded. Recent reports suggest the strain of regular journeys can have an effect on one's health, causing some people to suffer dangerous levels of stress. But is this really the case, is there anything that can be done to overcome it or is it out of our control?
KEY POINTS
Train commuting is used by thousands of people a year. In fact, figures from the Rail Passengers Council (RPC) reveal that 471,388 people made the regular daily commute to London in 2001.
Recent reports suggest that a university study found commuters had high stress levels causing the RPC to launch research into the situation.
In reality, the University of Nottingham merely reviewed existing stress research and found a lack of information about train stress. Plus, the RPC haven't yet launched a research project, but they are thinking about it.
Experts say commuting can be hard, but can be made better through positive thinking, relaxation and by taking control.
What were the headlines?
Reports relating to train and commuter stress were recently featured in a variety of newspapers and news websites, and within days, the story had made worldwide headlines in countries as far flung as Australia, India and Singapore. Typical UK headlines included, "Packed trains 'bad for health'" and "Commuting is bad for you," while in India and Singapore they wrote, "Overcrowded trains cause high stress," and "Blame them on crowded trains". The majority of reports claimed that a preliminary study carried out at the University of Nottingham had discovered many commuting train passengers were suffering from high levels of stress. As a result, it was reported that the Rail Passengers Council would be funding a much larger study into the matter.
Details of the proposed study were included, telling of how the researchers would measure travellers' heart rates and blood pressure in an attempt to be the first organisation to scientifically record the stress levels of passengers and fully assess the impact of overcrowded, busy trains.
The news stories gave the impression that the study was the result of lengthy plans, was fully finalised and had already been launched or was about to be launched.
"Of course the fact that trains can be crowded, late and not very clean is stressful. When you put people in a confined space, it's a pressure, and trains that are late or dirty add to that. Coping with it is a lot about attitude - we would all love it if all trains were clean, tidy and on time, but they aren't, so we have to adjust our attitude. If you do suffer from a stress-related illness, it's important to pinpoint exactly what it is, then concentrate on treating the condition and reducing the underlying stress." Alyssa Armstrong, Stress management consultant, Bupa Wellness
What is the bigger picture?
Despite these fascinating claims, the reality is rather different.
The Rail Passengers Council (RPC) described the newspaper and website reports as making "a mountain out of a molehill," exaggerating their comments and misreporting their actions. "We haven't actually commissioned research yet," explained a spokesperson. Neither has a full-blown study been carried out by researchers in Nottingham - they merely gathered together information about existing stress studies. "We did ask the University of Nottingham to look at any previous research on stress relating to trains and overcrowding. However, we found out that not a lot of research has been done on this issue," he said.
"We've said on record that there ought to be more studies conducted and we are considering future investigations on the topic. If we do decide to go ahead, we'd be most likely to commission the project to an outside research body. However, we are not conducting a report just yet and nothing is 100 per cent certain," the RPC's spokesperson added.
It's likely the stories arose following a recent inquiry, made up of a committee of MPs, into train overcrowding. The notion that passengers are being crammed into trains like cattle (what the papers referred to as cattle-truck syndrome) was mentioned at the inquiry by John Cartledge, deputy director of the London Transport Users Committee (LTUC). Anthony Smith, director of the RPC also shared his concerns and suggested that the situation should be changed for the sake of passengers.
The idea that commuting is a stressful factor for many people isn't entirely new however, and is backed up by some previous research. A survey produced for the International Stress Management Association's year 2000 National Stress Awareness Day found that 44 per cent of 400 people surveyed thought that rush hour the single most stressful part of their life.
A MORI poll conducted on behalf of Mitel Networks in 2001 found a similar situation, with 41 per cent of workers rating travel as the most stressful part of their job.
What does this mean?
Although the reports don't all paint exactly the same picture, the basic themes about stress are still important.
"I thought this was a really interesting story because clearly you don't have to be Einstein to work out that trains that are delayed, late and crowded are going to cause people stress," noted Bupa Wellness stress management consultant, Alyssa Armstrong.
"It just goes to show that anything on stress seems to be of public interest at the moment. It's probably because it is true that our stress levels are rising, or we perceive them to be, so we're interested to know more," she added.
According to Carole Spiers, chair of the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), "Commuting certainly puts pressure on individuals, there's no question of that." However, she believes it can be overcome. "People can control their pressure levels, so therefore it's not really the situation in itself - commuting - that's the problem, it's one's attitude towards the situation."
ACTION POINTS
- If you think you could have a stress-related illness, consult your GP or a stress counsellor.
- If you feel stressed while travelling, try simple relaxation techniques and positive affirmations.
- Rather than thinking negatively, try to be positive and make the most of the situation.
- Think about how you can practically use the time spent travelling - by working, reading a good book or listening to music.
If you're concerned about the effects of daily commuting or are worried about feeling stressed, the advice from experts is to not panic, as it can be avoided.
For stressed-out travellers, says Alyssa Armstrong, "The sooner you accept the service is quite likely to be poor, late and crowded, then you'll be a lot better off. You won't be disappointed and you won't feel so stressed about it."
"It's also really important to concentrate on relaxation," adds Alyssa. She believes simple exercises are ideal and can easily be carried out without anyone else knowing. The idea is to focus on your breathing by taking full relaxed breaths and then gradually relax all the muscles in your body, particularly the eyes, jaw and forehead where a lot of stress can be held. When you're fully relaxed she suggests silently saying affirmations to yourself, such as, "Even though this is uncomfortable, in the scheme of things it's really not that bad," or "I do this commute and accept it as part of a job I love."
Other practical ways of coping, suggests Carole, include, "planning your time and using it effectively to your own benefit".
If you do end up suffering from a stress-related illness the Mental Health Foundation says that it's important to seek professional help.
"Stress manifests itself in a lot of different ways and the treatments are as varied as the illnesses," says Alyssa. Types of help include stress management techniques, complementary therapies - such as counselling, hypnotherapy or aromatherapy - and, in some cases, medication.
Summary
Stress can be a key concern for commuters, but while travelling can be an unpleasant experience, it's a necessity for many. Simple changes to attitude could make a vast difference, but if stress does become a problem, professional help is at hand.
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