Stress

What do heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide all have in common, aside from being 6 of leading causes of death? Stress. Not only can stress can be is linked to these six leading causes of death, but these and other stress related ailments attribute to anywhere between 75-90% of reasons why individuals visit their physicians (Magliozzi, 2005).

Before discussing stress, it is essential that we have a clear understanding of what stress is. According to our text, I Never Knew I Had a Choice, stress is an event or series of events that result in strain. This strain can take both physical and psychological forms (Corey & Corey, 2006). When hearing the word stress, it is not uncommon to become anxious and think of all the times where stress has affected you in a negative manner. After all, many American’s associate stress with all the havoc it causes in their life, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, etc… (Kotz, 2008). However, it is imperative to note that not all stress and stressors are negative. Distress, stress’s negative form, can be experienced when individuals feel threatened or that they are in fear. This form of stress depletes our body and minds leaving us in an unpleasant emotional state. Eustress is a more appealing form of stress as it challenges our ways of behavior and urges us to strive in attaining more (Corey & Corey, 2006). Although Corey & Corey lay out a general definition of what stress is, there is no formula for how or what will stress each individual.

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 (Public Speaking is a GREAT example of how stress produces anxiety in some individuals). Others view stress as their response to such situations. Responses can include, but are not limited to physiological changes. Individuals will sometimes experience an increased heart rate and muscle tension-as well as emotional and behavioral changes (Corey & Corey, 2006). Most psychologists agree that stress is a process that incorporates a person's interpretation to such events, and the way in which they respond.

Stress is a common experience that everyone has dealt with at some time or another, being that there is stress present in all stages of our lives (Corey & Corey, 2006). Because stress is largely based upon our perceptions, or misperceptions of situations which we experience, we do tend to have a larger amount of control over stress than we tend to believe (Corey & Corey, 2006). The first step in learning how to manage our levels of stress is to learn to identify sources that cause stress.

Many individuals feel stress when they are overworked (Howard, 2008). This may be a result of being very busy, having important deadlines to meet, or feeling as through there is not enough time to complete all assigned tasks (Corey & Corey, 2006). A significant amount of stress stems from environmental factors and external sources. Students often experience this through registering for classes, trying to take the right courses, attempting to balance a work and school schedule, and making time for family. Friends and other social functions also tend to put a strain on students, along with housing conditions and financial obligations (Corey & Corey, 2006). Even psychologist experience a great deal of environmental stress resulting from the lack of clarity between multiple work roles, and the lack of a solid social support system (Gardner & O’Driscoll, 2007)(Haward, 2008).

Much of the environmental stress in our lives can be attributed to having to deal with the daily hassles pertaining to our jobs, as discussed above, personal relationships, and everyday living circumstances. Many people experience the same hassles every day, which over time increase the intensity of ones stress. Examples of daily stressors include living in a noisy neighborhood, commuting to work in heavy traffic, disliking one's fellow co workers or supervisor, waiting in long lines, dealing with poor drivers, and misplacing or losing things. Even pleasurable events as vacations can lead to distress as many individuals suffer from the inability to leave their wok behind (Grumman, 2005).

When taken individually, these hassles may feel like only minor irritants and inconveniences, but cumulatively, over time, they can add up to a significant amount stress. The amount of exposure people have to these and other daily hassles is strongly related to their daily mood. Generally, the greater their exposure is to hassles, their mood will reflect so. Studies have found that one's exposure to daily hassles is actually more predictive of illness than is exposure to major life events (Lantz, et al, 2005).

A second source of stress that affects individuals are psychological stressors. Psychological stressors are circumstances that we deem frightening or threatening (Corey & Corey, 2006). How an individual rates a situation and interprets its meaning will directly relate to the amount of stress that the situation has on them. Psychological stress can often times produce, or result from feelings of frustration and conflict.

Change and pressures both have a tendency to intensify the effects of psychological stress. Stress has the ability to affect all individuals quite differently. To some, stress is a positive feeling that encourages competition and creativity. Others experience anxiety, increased heat rate and fear. Although some individuals may avoid stress, it is essential to remember that stress is a normal reaction that our bodies have our daily experiences, especially those which we interrupt as threatening.

Fight or flight is the experience that our bodies have when trying to cope with our everyday hassles and stressors (Corey & Corey, 2006). Such experiences can lead to actual physical symptoms that ail us (Corey & Corey, 2006). As previously mentioned six leading causes of death can be linked to stress (Magliozzi, 2005). However, not all symptoms are life threatening. Other illnesses range from asthma, (Landers, 2006) skin disease, and digestive disorders (Corey & Corey, 2006). Psychosomatic illnesses can also be attributed to stress as these result from emotional factors (Corey & Corey). Similar to how stress take on an array of symptoms, individuals also deal with stress in a plethora of manners and through various tactics. As Corey & Corey discussed throughout the text, methods of coping with stress can range from being healthy, helpful, and effective to unproductive and ineffective (Corey & Corey, 2006).

Such destructive methods of dealing with stress include but are not limited to drug and alcohol