There are limitless causes of stress. Stress can be a viewed in a personal light in that situations that one individual may find stressful, seems a breeze to another. The way we view and handle different events in the world, or environment, our family life or work or school life, our personality, general outlook on life, problem-solving abilities, and social support system has direct effect on our stress levels. Whether realistic or not, some people view stress as a choice, arguing that one is only affected by the things we choose to give room, allowing them to affect us negatively. Some see the glass as half empty while others see it as half full.
This is not always the case, as there are sometimes medical conditions that cause us to react in certain ways to various situations; as in the case of a hormonal imbalance. When our hormones are in balance, we feel great, we have lots of energy, our stress levels are low, we sleep like a baby, we look wonderful, and our immune and digestive systems function perfectly. On the other hand imbalanced hormones can lead to constant stress which is especially harmful. In this case, the support we give our bodies is usually inadequate. The cumulative effect of this lack of support over extended periods can lead to stress, stress and more stress.
Stressors however, can generally be divided into three broad categories:
Frustrations – Frustrations are obstacles that prevent us from meeting our needs or achieving personal goals. They can be external — such as discrimination, an unsatisfying job, divorce, or the death of a loved one—or internal. Examples of internal frustrations include physical handicaps, the lack of a desired ability or trait, and other real or perceived personal limitations.
Conflicts – Stressors involving two or more incompatible needs or goals are known as conflicts. For example, having to make a choice between work and spending quality time with the family. Sometimes the conflict involves a choice between two desirable options, such as making a choice between equally appealing offers. At other times, the decision involves disagreeable alternatives.
Pressures – Stress can stem from the expectations of others or the demands we place on ourselves. One may feel pressure to get good grades in order to please parents or get into a good school. Or you may feel pressure to excel at work, make a difference in your community, or be the perfect mother etc.
The extent of our stress, the physical, mental and emotional impact depends in part on the nature of the stressor itself. Prolonged stressors are more likely to result in severe distress and disruption of functioning.
Post-traumatic stress is a serious condition that can affect anyone who has been through an extremely difficult or violent experience, such as witnessing a violent death or disaster, being involved in a serious car crash or surviving a fire.
People suffering from post-traumatic stress may experience many symptoms. Many people with this condition may feel a mixture of emotions such as fear, shame, depression, guilt or anger, and recurrent memories or images that may be haunting or lead to nightmares. These feelings can last for weeks, months or even years after the traumatic event that triggered them. Specialist treatment, possibly with medicines and psychological therapies, is available.
