Stress causes vary from person to person: some people thrive in situations that are major causes of stress to others. Knowing what causes stress for you personally can help you manage and control your stress levels.

The brain sees no difference between real and imagined causes of stress. Imagined stressors generate stress just as much as real ones. If you believe your boss is trying to fire you, you'll have stress at work whether you're right or not. One study suggested that pessimistic thinkers were nineteen percent more likely to die than optimists, who presumably spend less time thinking about stressful situations.

Causes of Stress at Work

Thirty to forty percent of adults report extreme stress at work. Stress at work leaves people exhausted, irritated and with little or no job satisfaction. From a managerial viewpoint, stress at work lowers company morale, decreases company productivity and increases absenteeism. People who experience excessive stress at work are more likely to quit their jobs and have higher rates of illness than other people.

Specific job stressors vary depending on the individual. If a person isn't a good fit for a job, then stress at work is almost inevitable. An introverted person who values quiet in the workplace will be stressed working in a hospital emergency ward or call center.

When people report stress at work, certain causes of stress show up consistently. They include:

• job insecurity
• unreasonable expectations
• high-pressure deadlines
• cutbacks
• increased productivity demands
• insufficient rest periods
• long hours
• sudden changes
• shift work
• noise
• air pollution
• crowded workplaces.

Life Stressors

Major life events also cause stress. Divorce, family deaths, and periods of illness or poverty cause stress, and also make it harder to deal with stress at work. Caregiving for a seriously ill family member is one of the most draining causes of stress, particularly if the caregiver is elderly.

Daily Causes of Stress

While stress at work and major life events are obvious stress causes, don't forget that day-to-day stressors can make a significant impact on stress levels. Traffic jams, bill-payments, family tensions, flat tires, dentist's appointments, and an infinite number of minor causes of stress all add to your stress level.

Resources

Lifepositive.com. (nd). Causes of stress. Retrieved August 24, 2003, from www.lifepositive.com/stress.html.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2002). Depression [NIH Publication No. 02-3561]. Retrieved August 21, 2003, from www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm#ptdep4.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2003). Gene more than doubles risk of depression following life stresses. Retrieved August 21, 2003, from www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2003/nimh-17.htm.

National Sleep Foundation. (2002). Epidemic of daytime sleepiness linked to increased feelings of anger, stress, and pessimism. Retrieved August 21, 2003 from www.sleepfoundation.org/nsaw/pk_pollresultsmood.html.