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Stress is part of normal life and indeed is not an illness but is a physiological state, which, if unmanaged, can lead to illness. Most people experience stress at some point in their lives and different people react in different ways.
Stressors may be any life event or circumstance that exerts physical, emotional or cognitive demands on a person. We are all likely to experience stress in our lives and therefore it is not the stress which causes the problem but our ability to cope with the stress or the excess pressure that the stressors can cause.
Stress is not a diagnosis or disease, but a cascade of chemical message carriers called hormones which have a role in preparing the body for "fight or "flight" in response to emotions which if not defused may contribute to disease . Whether it has an impact on a person depends on the vulnerability of the person, the intensity, duration and meaning of the stress, and the person’s ability to cope
Long-term excessive stress can lead to serious health problems and therefore it is important to identify whether real excessive pressure exists or whether there are other underlying causative factors which are contributing to the individuals inability to cope, or more importantly, their perception of their ability to cope.
One person’s stress is another’s enjoyable challenge which means that we must all learn skills to manage our own stress. Good nutrition and plenty of exercise will help most people manage a wide range of stressors. Here are a few helpful hints:
Pressure is required to allow us to perform, but when the pressure is too great, or it persists, then this can cause changes to the functioning of neurological, endocrine, cardiovascular, autonomic and immunological systems, which can then lead to illness, including high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression and burnout (Michie, 2002).
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