Most people know that certain situations, such as the death of a loved one, marriage, divorce, moving house or even going on holiday, are stressful. Just one happening can create a lot of pressure. More than one can push someone to breaking point. When this happens, the body may simply be demanding a rest from the stresses and strains.

There is also the cumulative effect of lots of small stresses that can build up over time. Whilst some pressure in our lives is a necessary thing because it spurs us on, it does become a problem when we are exposed day in and day out to situations that stretch our coping to the limit and beyond.

There are four, basic sources of pressure:

Environment - weather, noise, traffic, pollution etc.

Social stressors - such as loss, family worries, financial problems, work deadlines, and the range of other demands for our time and attention.

Physiology - for example adolescence, the effects of ageing, injury, illness, lack of exercise, poor diet and inadequate sleep - all of which tax the body’s energy.

Your thoughts - your brain interprets changes in your environment and body and decides when to turn on the ‘the stress response.’

Causes of stress are therefore not linked solely to external factors but depend on a number of things including our personality, our perception of a situation, the amount of control we have and our ability to find a suitable strategy to manage the situation.

In the workplace research has identified potential for stress in six key areas. To find out more about workplace stress and ways to tackle the problem click onto Managing Work-Related Stress.

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Page Last Updated: 3 November 2004