The biggest causes of stress

Causes of stress: Part 1, Part 2

Here I am continuing with my lists of the biggest causes of stress.  Remember though - it is often (though not necessarily) your perception of the event, rather than the event or situation itself that causes stress.

Do make sure that you also visit my pages on adrenal fatigue symptoms, symptoms of a nervous breakdown (not a term used by professionals, but one that most lay people recognise) and stress and relationships.

Work

Work-related stress is most certainly one of the biggest causes of stress, as you are likely to spend so much of your time at work (and it may be stressful if you want to work, but are unemployed).  Work-related stress and stress at work can cause depression and anxiety, or in the case of emergency services/forces personnel - possibly trauma and even (though relatively rarely) PTSD.

Work-related stress also often ‘leaks out’ into personal relationships: a lousy day at work may cause you to be ratty and miserable at home, a traumatic incident is potentially life-changing, challenging everything that you have previously taken fro granted.

Are you a manager?  See: Managing stress in the workplace.

Here is a list of work-related stressors in no particular order:

• burn-out (see: Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
• difficulties with a manager (see How to deal with criticism)
• boredom (see: Bored with life)
• conflicts with colleagues (see: Relationship communication)
• home-related stuff impeding on well-being and performance at work (see: Relationship problems)
• promotion - lack of opportunity, feeling by-passed, interview/exam anxiety
• work reminders of past (childhood) trauma
• feeling overstretched in terms of workload
• simply working in a job that is known to be stressful
• feeling overstretched in terms of difficulties of tasks
• changing roles, departments, area
• harassment - racial, sexual
• traumatic work-related experiences
• loss of job
• deadlines
• commuting
• lack of recognition
• public speaking
• values and beliefs of the organisation/business don't fit with yours

Decided to find another job?  I know the best job-finding site for you: best-interview-strategies.com (see links).

Financial problems

Financial problems can feel all pervasive.  You may feel that you just cannot get away from it.  It can feel as if the loan sharks, bank managers, partner, children and creditors are camping in your head.  Financial hardship is definitely one of the biggest causes of stress.

Here is a list of stressors you might be dealing with.  I have broken 'money worries' down in symptoms.  Pick out the ones that apply to you:

• Feeling out of control of other people’s spending – partner, children
• Having to tell others that their plans cannot happen
• Worrying about job insecurity
  
• Feeling stressed and therefore grumpy
• Feeling rotten because you are so grumpy with your husband/wife/partner and children
• Sleepless nights and miserable mornings
• The ‘pay packet’ bringing no relief at the start of the month
• Wondering how you are going to tell others that they are going to have to contribute (more)
• Worrying about what you will be feeding your family on

Each separate point can provide an opportunity for change.  Dealing with the actual financial/job insecurity or debts is likely to take time.  However, you can do something about how you feel about them or react to them.

Health problems

A sudden illness or an accident (see my page on dealing with trauma) or a severe/long-term decline in health invariably come with a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being.

Severe health, and sometimes even seemingly minor, problems almost invariably affect all aspects of your life.

Here is a list of the biggest causes of stress in terms of health:

• coping with bad, even unexpected, news
• coping with the impact of bad news on loved ones
• changing dynamics between you and your husband/wife/partner if one of you becomes more dependent on the other
  
• impact of health problems on your ability to do your job/earn an income
  
• impact of your health problem on your role at home
  
• impact on your financial security, because of your health or your having to care for someone else
• feeling generally out of control of several aspects of your life
• coping with a sense of loss (your health, security, status, achievements)
• coping with your dealings with the health services (positive and/or negative)
• coping with stressful and/or painful procedures, such as surgery
  
• coping with changing relationships with friends/family/colleagues due to illness

Unsafe/insecure environment

An unsafe environment could mean the following: fear of threats, violence and intimidation, or actually having experienced these. 

These events may happen in your neighbourhood, personal relationships as well as your work environment, or a combination of these.  The results of that are:

• anticipatory anxiety – you are constantly worried about what could happen
• post-traumatic stress reactions, if actually experienced, frequently imagined or the accumulated effects of the stress of it all
• inability to really becoming the person you want to be
• feeling guilty about not acting differently
• worrying about the safety of others
• inability to focus on the things that really matter
• low self-esteem
• feeling very self-conscious
• difficulties in other relationships

The biggest causes of stress and the human givens

All of the above problems causing stress mean that our most essential needs are not being met in balance.  Meeting your innate needs in balance and using your inborn resources effectively (see my page on human givens) will help you to deal with the biggest causes of stress.

You, your marriage/relationship and the biggest causes of stress

Invariably stress has an impact on a couple relationship/marriage, as both partners often have different styles of problem solving (see my page on Stress and your relationship)

You and your husband/wife/partner may react very differently to stressful times that affect your health and happiness.  Try not to judge your spouse, however difficult - it would only add another layer of suffering and yet another problem to solve.

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You may also be interested in:

Problem solving strategies
Signs of clinical depression
PTSD - veterans
PTSD symptoms
Stress management in the workplace

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Other helpful links:

Health and Safety Executive - links to studies on work-related stress
Web MD - for all your health queries
Customer service agencies - helping to make a stressful job enjoyable
Best Interview Strategies - top tips for finding and getting that dream job