What is Stress?

Although there are many different definitions of stress, a simple one is presented below:

Stress is our body's physical, mental and chemical reactions to circumstances that frighten, excite, confuse, endanger or irritate us.

Timm and Peterson further define it as a state of mental or emotional imbalance caused by perceived difference between a person's capabilities and what is expected of that person. In short, it is our body's way of adapting to change or pressures. It is also unavoidable and part of our daily lives.

When you think of stress, what do you think of? Does your definition of stress involve both good stress — called eustress — and bad stress - called duress?

Eustress often inspires us to meet a challenge with energy and enthusiasm. It is through these positive experiences that we grow. However, when stress becomes too much, the effect is a negative one. Instead of taking control of a situation, it appears the situation has taken control of us.

Stress can come from both internal and external pressures as shown in the diagram below. (Use the two blank arrows to add your own categories.)