What is Stress?

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance in some way. These events or demands are known as stressors. We usually think of stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a rocky relationship.

However, anything that forces us to adjust can be a stressor. This includes positive events such as getting married or receiving a promotion.

Regardless of whether an event is good or bad, if the changes it brings strain our coping skills and adaptive resources, the end result is the subjective feeling of stress and the body's biological stress response.

Some of the symptoms of stress are:

Intellectual symptoms:
How stress can affect your mind

• Memory problems

• Difficulty making decisions

• Inability to concentrate

• Confusion

• Seeing only the negative

• Repetitive or racing thoughts

• Poor judgment

• Loss of objectivity

• Desire to escape or run away

Emotional symptoms:
How stress can make you feel

• Moody and hypersensitive

• Restless and anxious

• Depressed

• Angry and resentful

• Easily irritated and “on edge”

• Overwhelmed

• Unconfident

• Apathy

• An urge to laugh or cry at inappropriate times

Physical symptoms:
How stress can affect your body

• Headaches

• Digestive problems

• Muscle tension and pain.

• Sleep disturbances.

• Fatigue

• Chest pain, irregular heartbeat

• High blood pressure

• Weight gain or loss

• Asthma or shortness of breath

• Skin problems

• Decreased sex drive

Behavioral symptoms:
How stress can affect your behaviour

• Eating more or less

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Isolating yourself from others

• Neglecting your responsibilities

• Increasing alcohol and drug use

• Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

• Teeth grinding or jaw clenching

• Overdoing activities such as exercising or shopping

• Losing your temper

• Overreacting to unexpected problems

The facts about Stress

• Everyone experiences at least "some stress" every two weeks.

• Half of those experience moderate or high levels of stress during the same two-week period.

• Millions suffer from unhealthy levels of stress at work.

• Stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, and other illnesses in many individuals.

• Stress also affects the immune system, which protects us from many serious diseases.

• Stress also contributes to the development of alcoholism, obesity, suicide, drug addiction, cigarette addiction, and other harmful behaviors.

What are the causes of Stress?

Acute stress – a sudden jolt in which you know exactly why you are stressed – you were just in a car accident etc. 

Episodic Stress – chaotic lives, facing multiple stressful situations, taking on too many projects and demands

Chronic Stress – unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time, common causes are long term unemployment, caring for chronically ill relative, feeling trapped in unhealthy relationship or career choice, perfectionism, bullying and harassment.

Traumatic Stress – Severe stress reactions can result from a catastrophic event or intense experience such as natural disaster, sexual assault or life threatening accident.