We experience stress in varying forms and degrees every day. In small doses, it can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem.
As the level of pressure becomes overwhelming, stress surpasses our ability to cope with it in a positive way. People often describe themselves as being stressed out, burned out, or "at wit's end."
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Stress usually first affects the inner emotions, with symptoms which may include the following:
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These emotional states can then begin to affect a person's outward appearance:
- Unusually anxious or nervous
- Distracted
- Self-absorbed
- Irritable
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As the stress level increases, or if it lasts over a longer period, a person may begin to feel more severe emotional or physical effects:
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It has been estimated that 75-90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems. Job stress is undoubtedly the leading source of stress for adults, but stress levels have also escalated in children, teenagers, college students, and the elderly, for reasons including: increased crime, violence, and other threats to personal safety; peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy lifestyle habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious values and ties; the loss of other strong sources of social support that are powerful destressors.
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This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for a health care provider's consultation.
sourced in part from: The American Institute of Stress (www.stress.org); National Institute of Mental Health (www.nimh.nih.gov); Anxiety Disorders Association of America (www.adaa.org).