What is Stress?

January 19, 2011 by  
Filed under About Stress

What is Stress?

Stress can be classified as a pattern of emotional, behavioural, physiological, and cognitive reactions to real or imagined threats in our lives which are thought to be blocking a goal or threatening our wellbeing. Stress is not a direct product of the modern era, although the amount of stimuli that we have to contend with today certainly impacts on our overall stressors. Stress can be looked on as a behavioural mechanism that our ancestors learnt when confronted with wild animals or enemies in times gone by. In our current lives, stress still helps us confront or escape from threatening situations.

The stressors, or events, that we have to deal with in our modern world include ones that may be classed as catastrophic- floods and bushfires – or they may be classed as trivial like not being able to find a car park when you are late. Stressors are not always bad. Some such as athletic events and exams can have a positive effect on our behaviour. Generally when a stress is experienced for a long period of time, it can then have a negative effect on both the person’s psychological health and physical health.

Stress is probably the most common cause of general illness and disorders in the world today. Stress has become such a part of our lives that many of us ignore the symptoms and continue on regardless.

Stress will affect everyone at some stage of their life. For many of us, it will become an integral part of our lives. Chronic or long term stress can be so serious that it causes ongoing illnesses, affecting our work performance and reducing life expectancy. The general affects of prolonged everyday stress have been linked to many types of psychological problems and mental health disorders including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and eating disorders. Chronic Stress has also been linked to poor academic performance, insomnia, nightmares, sexual difficulties, alcohol abuse, and general unhappiness. Of course stress is only one of the many factors contributing to these psychological problems and disorders. It certainly is worth thinking about the link between stress and long term illness.

Stress, both chronic and acute, is a serious and common problem which seems to catch up with all of us at some time. It is the direct result of either external or internal conflict or pressure. Irrespective of what causes stress in our lives, stress is an increasing part of our lives. Once you have recognised that you are suffering from stress overload, there are skills that you can learn to address the problem

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