The word stress is used to describe the failure of a human being or animal to react properly to emotional or physical threats. Stress is caused by many, many reasons and will affect humans and animals in different ways. Stress can also be provoked by imaginary and/or real threats.
Experiments with animals, mainly laboratory rats were successful in identifying certain stress signs since the 1930’s. A rat that was cornered in a box and was not allowed too much movement for specific amounts of time stopped eating and became irritable. During longer periods of confinement the rats stopped sleeping; instead of going hungry they started eating too much, in some cases they attacked each other too.
Humans are all different from one another and determining a specific number of stress causes or signs is extremely difficult. These all depend on the capability of a person to adapt and change or to accept a given situation for what it is and continue on with his or her life. There are certain situations which will produce a certain level of stress in all humans, for example, unemployment, debts, the death of a loved one, the sickness of a loved one, divorce, separation from someone; these are common things that produce stress to a certain degree.
On the other hand we have people who will be stressed because they are in a traffic jam and can’t get home. There are people who have to attend a party and will be stressed because it may rain or they will not be able to get there on time. Others may worry and stress-out because they see a show on TV where a doctor mentions the symptoms to a disease and all of a sudden they feel the symptoms and want to see a doctor because they feel sick too.
There are many reasons for stress and many signs too. One of the major and most common sign of stress is irritability; the degree of irritation may vary greatly from one person to another but will always be present. Depression is also a common sign of stress. Other people stop eating, or eat too much. Others stop sleeping or sleep too much.
Headaches, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, the impossibility to concentrate on any given task; these are also common signs of stress. The signs of stress can be accumulative too, especially during difficult times during in life when many different situations merge into one big problem and the person feels that there are no solutions to his or her problems and these keep piling one on top of the other. In times like these people tend to seek relief in drugs, alcohol, tobacco and medication. Others believe suicide is their only way out of all the problems they have.
Many times even after the problems have been solved, the affected person remains in the state of depression or permanent irritation and emotional instability caused by the stress. Psychological counseling and attention will be necessary to bring these people back to their normal state and conduct pattern.
Stress is a condition that must be taken very seriously especially when the people who relate to the affected person notice changes in conduct and emotional reactions and manners. Most every problem in this world can be solved if we face it with calm and an open mind. Emotional reactions will usually make matters worse and can definitely cause physical reactions and consequences which can also be dangerous and long lasting.