What is Stress?

Stress is a natural physiological and psychological response to a perceived threat or demand that occurs when we face challenging or threatening situations, whether they are real or perceived. Stress evolved as a survival mechanism to help humans react quickly in dangerous situations and this worked incredibly well for us. We did survive and thrive but now we’re more stressed than ever. Our fast-paced, modern society has created a multitude of new stressors like pressure at work, relationship issues, financial difficulties, health problems, or major life changes.

When we encounter stress, our body releases stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, which trigger the “fight-or-flight” response. This response prepares us to either confront the threat or flee from it.

Stress can lead to increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, tense muscles, and rapid breathing but it’s important to note that not all stress is harmful. In fact, mild to moderate levels of stress can be beneficial and motivating, pushing us to perform better and meet deadlines. However, when stress becomes overwhelming or chronic it can affect our well-being and even our longevity!

Alarming facts about stress:

• 75% of adults report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress on a daily basis.
• Women are more likely than men to say that their jobs negatively impact their mental health. Stressors related to their careers include discrimination, wage gaps and limited career opportunities.
• Women are more likely to report significant stress related to work-life balance. They’re more often the ones taking on significant caregiving roles for children, aging parents, or other family members.
• Stress levels are highest among younger generations. The Gen Z adults (born after 1997) reported the highest stress levels. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) followed closely behind, while older generations reported comparatively lower stress levels.
• Workplace performance and productivity are significantly reduced amongst people experiencing high levels of stress. Stress-related absences and decreased productivity cost U.S. businesses over $300 billion each year.
• Stress is the leading cause of many health problems, including heart diseases, muscle and joint pains, digestive problems and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

What Are the Symptoms of Stress?

Stress symptoms vary greatly from one person to the next, but the most common sign of stress is a feeling of being pressured or overwhelmed. Other symptoms include:

• Anxiety or constant worrying
• Mood swings or irritability
• Changes in behavior at home (short temper, unexplained anger, crying for no reason).
• Restlessness or agitation
• Feeling sad or depressed
• Lack of motivation or difficulty concentrating
• Increased sensitivity to criticism or emotional triggers
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Dysfunctional sleep patterns, including nightmares, too little sleep, difficulty falling asleep, or even oversleeping.
• Physical complaints such as palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath, stomach aches, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea, and a sensation of numbness or tingling in your hands, arms, and face.

It’s important to note that experiencing a few of these symptoms occasionally is normal, but if you consistently experience several of these symptoms over an extended period and they significantly interfere with your daily life, it may be helpful to seek support from a healthcare professional or a mental health provider.