Definition Of Stress

Stress is one of those words that has become so commonly used that it is used to cover a whole spectrum of emotions and feelings. We all assume that everyone else means the same as we do.

Yet there are many varying definitions of stress.

Some researchers distinguish between Eustress (when something changes for the better) and Distress (when something changes for the worse).

Others use stress to cover anxiety. By which I mean a fear of what may happen.

Others define stress as being beyond the individual’s ability to cope.

By clearly defining what stress really is, we are better able to understand it. And what we understand we can control, manage and prevent. So here goes…

If you look up stress in a dictionary you’ll find most cover three basic variations.

1. Distress
Here they are referring to the negative consequences of something being too much to cope with. This is the subsequent emotions.

2. A Mechanical Or Physics Based Explanation
This refers to the ability of a machine, or some other solid physical object, to cope with the level of pressure or work it is subjected to. It’s about being used in a way that you aren’t designed to be used.

3. Emphasis

This definition refers to where you place importance. For example, in a sentence you may accent or emphasise a particular word. Here you are stressing it’s importance.

Now if we look at these definitions we can better understand stress, it’s causes and how to prevent it.

My Definition Of Stress

Cause
We feel stressed if we focus our attention and so emphasis negative aspects of our life.

Effect
It creates a pressure on us so that we find it hard to cope.

And this tension and causes us to feel negative emotions.

This doesn’t mean that we have to bury our head in the sand and ignore what we don’t like. It means that, rather than focusing our attention on the unfairness and injustice of the situation, we focus on what we can do. Not what we can’t.