STRESS FACTORS (CAUSES OF STRESS)

Stress is generally associated with some emotional discomfort accompanied by feeling of not being able to cope, that things are falling apart, that one is not in control etc.
Stress is regarded as something unpleasant and harmful to the individual.
Nevertheless, some degree of stress is normal and necessary in all living things, otherwise devoid of any external stimulation, the individual will be literally” bored to death”.
Perhaps up to 30% of all medical consultations may be related to stress problems.
In the workplace, stress can cause loss of productivity, lower efficiency and even decline of the organisation.
Life involves a variety of demands, problems, changing situations etc affecting the individual. The way individuals are affected by these demands and their response to them is referred to as STRESS. Thus, stress can be defined simple as a response made by people to demands made upon them.
The life event, demands etc act as STRESSORS to which the individual develops mechanisms for coping with these life events. However, when one’s usual coping mechanisms become inadequate in dealing with a situation, HARMFUL STRESS OR DISTRESS results. Generally, when the word stress is used, it is actually referring to harmful stress or distress.