Stress
is an unpleasant state of emotional
and physiological arousal that people experience
in situations that they perceive as dangerous
or threatening to their well-being. The word stress
means different things to different people. Some people define
stress as events or situations that cause them to feel tension,
pressure, or negative
emotions such as anxiety
and anger. Others view
stress as the response to these situations. This response
includes physiological changes -such as increased
heart rate and muscle
tension- as well as emotional
and behavioural changes. However, most psychologists
regard stress as a process involving a person's interpretation
and response to a threatening event.
Stress
is a common experience. We may feel stress when we are very
busy, have important
deadlines to meet, or
have too little time to finish all of our tasks. Often people
experience stress because of problems at work or in social
relationships, such as a poor evaluation by a supervisor
or an argument with a friend. Some people may be particularly
vulnerable to stress
in situations involving the threat of failure
or personal humiliation. Others have extreme fears of objects
or things associated with physical
threats -such as snakes, illness, storms, or flying
in an airplane- and become stressed when they encounter or
think about these perceived threats. Major life events, such
as the death of a loved one, can cause severe stress.
A
person who is stressed typically has anxious thoughts and
difficulty concentrating
or remembering. Stress
can also change outward behaviour. Teeth clenching, hand wringing,
pacing, nail biting, and heavy breathing are common signs
of stress. People also feel physically different when they
are stressed. Butterflies in the stomach, cold hands and feet,
dry mouth, and increased heart rate are all physiological
effects of stress that we associate with the emotion
of anxiety.
If
not managed appropriately, stress can lead to serious problems.
Exposure to chronic stress can contribute to both physical
illnesses, such as heart disease, and mental illnesses, such
as anxiety disorders.
