Stress is a process, not a diagnosis. We experience stress when there
is an imbalance between the demands being made on us and our resources
to cope with those demands. The level and extent of stress a person may
feel depends a great deal on their attitude to a particular situation.
An event that may be extremely stressful for one person can be a mere
hiccup in another person’s life.
You may feel under pressure to do something and fear you may fail. The
more important the outcome, the more stressed you feel. You can feel
stressed by external situations (too much work, children misbehaving)
and by internal triggers (the way you think about external situations).
Stress is not always a bad thing. Some people thrive on stress and even
need it to get things done. When the term ‘stress’ is used in a clinical
sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for
a person and can lead to other mental health problems, such as anxiety
and depression.
