Stress is an inevitable part of the human experience. All of us, at one point or another, will experience stress related to our careers or personal life.
When the stress we face outstrips our ability to cope, however, is when stress begins to take its toll on our health and well-being.
Chronic exposure to unmanageable levels of stress, ultimately, can lead to illness and burnout, and ruin the quality of our lives.
Stress, simply put, are the physical and psychological reactions we face in response to negative or worrying events, also known as stressors. These stressors can come in countless forms, such as looming deadlines at work, relationship issues or illness.
Even smaller, daily annoyances, such as the traffic we endure on our daily commute, can build up over time and overtax our mind's ability to cope.
While small amounts of stress are normal and nothing to worry about, chronic exposure to stress interferes with our ability to cope. Often, those who experience excessive amounts of stress turn to poor coping skills, such as binge eating, smoking, and substance abuse, as a way to relieve their stress in the short-term.
These habits, however, often serve to contribute to stress over time, as they come with considerable health consequences. As stress is an unavoidable part of life, it is necessary to develop healthy coping strategies to deal with stress, and to recognize the signs of excessive stress.