Stress - a factor, from which no one escapes! In fact, birth itself is a stressful process, both for the newborn and the mother. Since then, it is ever present, adding flavour, challenge and opportunity to life. Nevertheless, it acquires a negative connotation. For too much stress threatens health and well-being. It is an inescapable fact that we live in a stressful environment. Both physically and mentally!

Stress is not a modern phenomenon. Since ages life has always been complex and stressful. Today's increasingly complex society does not do much to our inner peace, especially with the fast track technological changes happening all around us.

Therefore, the world places a high premium on staying cool, calm and collected. Stress is as individual as your personality and as different as your attitude. Hence it is not the situation that is stressful, but how you perceive it.

A crucial aspect never to be forgotten is stress per se is never harmful. In fact, it is beneficial. It is the response or reaction to it that will determine whether it is damaging in any way. Problems crop up when people tend to overreact to stress. The deciding factor lies in ability to handle it. People unable to cope with stress pay a high price on all fronts - physical, emotional and behavioural. It would ultimately rob us of peace of mind, vitality and health, with crippling effects on personal and professional fronts.

With this background in mind let's define stress and also delve into the major causes and methods of managing stress.

What is stress?

Stress arises as a response to stimulus. Stimuli such as circumstances that create situations out of the ordinary and bring about physiological, psychological or behavioural change! Nothing unusual, its natural part of everyday life! Stress is neither good nor bad. Good stress is essential as this creates within our systems what we call "fight or flight" response. Responses, which are essential for an Olympic champion to win the 100 meters dash. Stress turns catastrophic when it recurs for a long period.

What are the sources of stress?

Philosophically, the fact is that our very existence on earth is a stressor (source of stress). Clinically, any stressor left untended is harmful to health. Thus it is imperative that we identify the sources of stress.

# Environmental conditions

Extreme climates can be significant stressors. According to a research conducted in USA, locations that experience limited sunshine have higher incidents of suicide.

Demographics of an area can also be a contributing factor. Some individuals are stressed due to the crowded conditions in which they live and work. Big cities, which have high noise levels due to incessant road traffic, may be intolerable to some people. They may prefer the serene and slow life in rural settings. There are other sensitive people who find noise made by cooling fans, scientific apparatus and the computer disk drives debilitating.

# Organisational factors

An undeniable fact about organisations is that they create environments that bring about increased levels of stress. The usual culprit in such cases is change, especially those of the technological kind. Yet, technological changes are a must to be competitive. More than the change, it is the uncertainty and instability it harbours in, that cause stress. If the organisation does not ensure any remedial measures, employees suffer, bringing down productivity. An accepted fact of industrial work culture is absenteeism, which is a result of stress.

Ineffective or inefficient policies and procedures are other organisational factors that contribute significantly to stress.

# Interpersonal influences

Personality conflicts are a major bone for contention at workplace. It can add unwanted stress as well. The inescapable irony of any organisation is people to work with each other and this can open up a vast array of opportunities for stress. The condition aggravates all the more when there is no trust between individuals. It is very difficult to work for or with someone who is untrustworthy. Like the proverbial rotten apple in a barrel, this condition can only get worse when left unattended. The problem with this kind of stress is that there can be an impact on those who are not directly involved. Thus, personality conflicts can become cancerous.

# External pressures

Most often people find it difficult to say "no". Imagine the impact it has when one has to say, "yes" too many times, especially when time is a limited commodity. The result can be an increase in stress level due to overload of work. Help and volunteerism are generous traits, which need to be dished out in manageable quantities.

# Personal tendencies

Though not as significant as other stressors, certain personal characteristics can drive others plain crazy. They can be anything from speech patterns to gum chewing, which are irritating. Whatever the habit, it makes no difference and the results are the same- increased unwanted stress levels.

Thank for sharing it.

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NeerSahab