STRESS

STRESSStress in Modern LifeAs everyone knows, stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. As the pace of modern life continues to increase, we are always feeling on the go from morning till night. And it is hard to slow down. It seems to us that everyone around us is aggressive. Therefore, whatever one does, he feels under stress all the time. It is clear that stress has much to do with the life in a competitive society.Different people, however, think of stress quite differently. Some believe that stress is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. They are of the opinion that a certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and to give purpose to life. Others argue that stress contributes to one’s mental decline and hence endangers his health. According to them, relaxation, the opposite of stress, is essential for a healthy mind and body.Stress is a word commonly found in today’s vocabulary, and is often used to describe modern working and living patterns, especially in big cities. Yet stress has been a part of daily life since time immemorial.Stress, in fact, has been linked to many more common diseases, such as cancer and even the common cold. The reason for this is that during the fight or flight response the body’s immune system that fights disease is also shut down, leaving the person more vulnerable to illness, and is, indeed, one of the commonest forms of stress-related problems. Unfortunately, however, modern life is packed full of stressful situations, and costs industry, thus the economy, millions of dollars each year in lost revenue. Traveling to work in the morning, meeting tight deadlines whilst at work, studying to further one’s qualifications, paying the mortgage or children’s school fees are but a few. Thus, it transpires that stress is a modern day epidemic that urgently needs addressing.The kids won't stop screaming, your boss has been hounding you because you turned a report in late, and you owe the IRS thousands of dollars you don't have. You're seriously stressed out.Stress is actually a normal part of life. At times, it serves a useful purpose. Stress can motivate you to get that promotion at work, or run the last mile of a marathon. But if you don't get a handle on your stress and it becomes long-term, it can seriously interfere with your job, family life, and health. More than half of Americans say they fight with friends and loved ones because of stress, and more than 70% say they experience real physical and emotional symptoms from it.Causes of StressEveryone has different stress triggers. Work stress tops the list, according to surveys. Forty percent of U.S. workers admit to experiencing office stress, and one-quarter say work is the biggest source of stress in their lives.Causes of work stress include:Being unhappy in your jobHaving a heavy workload or too much responsibilityWorking long hoursHaving poor management, unclear expectations of your work, or no say in the decision-making processWorking under dangerous conditionsBeing insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of terminationHaving to give speeches in front of colleaguesFacing discrimination or harassment at work, especially if your company isn't supportiveLife stresses can also have a big impact. Examples of life stresses are:The death of a loved oneDivorceLoss of a jobIncrease in financial obligationsGetting marriedMoving to a new homeChronic illness or injuryEmotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)Taking care of an elderly or sick family memberTraumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one Sometimes the stress comes from inside, rather than outside. You can stress yourself out just by worrying about things. All of these factors can lead to stress:Fear and uncertainty. When you regularly hear about the threat of terrorist attacks, global warming, and toxic chemicals on the news, it can cause you to feel stressed, especially because you feel like you have no control over those events. And even though disasters are typically very rare events, their vivid coverage in the media may make them seem as if they are more likely to occur than they really are. Fears can also hit closer to home, such as being worried that you won't finish a project at work or won't have enough money to pay your bills this month. Attitudes and perceptions. How you view the world or a particular situation can determine whether it causes stress. For example, if your television set is stolen and you take the attitude, "It's OK, my insurance company will pay for a new one," you'll be far less stressed than if you think, "My TV is gone and I'll never get it back! What if the thieves come back to my house to steal again?" Similarly, people who feel like they're doing a good job at work will be less stressed out by a big upcoming project than those who worry that they are incompetent.Unrealistic expectations. No one is perfect. If you expect to do everything right all the time, you're destined to feel stressed when things don't go as expected.Change. Any major life change can be stressful -- even a happy event like a wedding or a job promotion. More unpleasant events, such as a divorce, major financial setback, or death in the family can be significant sources of stress.Your stress level will differ based on your personality and how you respond to situations. Some people let everything roll off their back. To them, work stresses and life stresses are just minor bumps in the road. Others literally worry themselves sick.。