Causes of Stress

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Causes of Stress “Stress is a state of physical and emotional tension that occurs in times of danger or difficulty.” (Stress, 1). In society today it seems one cannot avoid stress, but just what causes stress and how can one find relief? As its definition suggests, there are in fact different kinds of stress. For example, positive stress is the kind one would experience after a milestone, be it a marriage, the birth of a child, a graduation or simply a parent or teacher giving positive reinforcements to assist in the development of a child, teenager or young adult. Negative stress on the other hand can be brought on by a tragedy, a death of a loved one, or perhaps a crime in which the individual has been involved or was a victim of. Prolonged exposure to stress can cause physical and mental illnesses such as: high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and possibly even cancer. It is necessary to examine the causes and effects of stress in order to differentiate between the many signs and symptoms which accompany it. Causes of stress fall into three broad categories: catastrophes, major life changes, and daily hassles. Catastrophes can be defined as great disasters or misfortunes. An example of a catastrophe would be a traumatic event such as a car accident, an assault, a natural disaster, or a war. Trauma can be defined as extensive bodily or mental injury. These of course are more serious causes of stress. Most stress however, is brought about by daily hassles rather than major events. One must also keep in mind that there exists varying degrees of causes which lead to varying degrees of stress who are dependent upon personality, environment and circumstance. For example, if heavy traffic usually upsets an individual and causes stress, but today that individual is in a good mood and is in no hurry, that particular stressor is no longer an issue. Over
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