What is Stress? Stress defined.

Stress is defined as the "interpretation of an event or circumstance which is seen as a threat". It is not just applicable on humans, but can be any force or pressure put on a system, which may result in a need for the system to adapt or change. Stress on human beings is like a rubber band, you also stretch or change "form" to meet the environment's needs around you as well as the demands of your lifestyle and the pressures you put on yourself.

When pushed too far, stress will manifest itself in real conditions, either mentally, physically and/or emotionally. Just like a rubber band breaks when stretched too far, human beings also have a breaking point. The secret is to learn how to cope with stress in your life, but actually avoid becoming over-stressed (one does have a certain degree of stress).

Stress basically consists of:

Activating event

Belief about the event

Consequences of the event

Stress is the internal pressure we put on ourselves caused by external factors. Living with moderate stress keeps you sharp and ready to move forward. On the other hand however, extreme stress can put you out of commission. It depends on your stress levels - how much you can deal with at once effectively. Some people thrive in stressful situations while some people snap at the slightest uncomfortable circumstance.

Due to the fast-paced, technologically advanced, complicated world we live in, many changes have been brought to our lives. All the time, the pace at which things are happening only seems to be increasing. These changes then puts more demand and pressure on each individual to adapt.

While stress is a definite modern world reality, being stressed-out is not. We mistakenly believe that being stressed-out is normal, and we often compete with each other about who feels the worst! Because stress can be a powerful motivator in our lives, one can learn to use stress to your advantage. A form of stress or another is responsible for everything happening in your world.

Ideally, one would say, prevention is better than cure. Get in touch with your personal health risks, family history, current health, and life choices. At the end of the day your life is affected by the choices you make.

Remember that stress management and self-management goes hand in hand and is also coherent to successfully handling stress. It is about selecting appropriate options as well as making smart decisions.

Become aware of your unique stressors and coping mechanisms to avoid becoming stressed out or burned out! Burn out comes from experiencing stress over a prolonged period and often lets you end up at the doctor. There are many ways to ease stress, most importantly you need to live each day according to the last, if that's what worked for you. Don't be stressed-out!

Some people try to cure stress with the help of drugs - this can be a trouble experience. Read more about adolescent drug abuse treatment.