Here Are Some Sources of External Stressors
Healthful Vitality | 10/26/2021 | Sources of External Stressors
Stress is a part of life. Moreover, studies show that stress is even widely prevalent among teenagers and young adults. This sharp increase in stress has lots to do with the changes in human lifestyle that occurred during the last century or so.
Further, the advent of gadgets has only made things worse. Computers, mobile devices, internet have all changed how we used to work. In addition, these gadgets have altered the speed at which things happen. It may mean that humans are able to do more tasks in a given time, but it also means much hectic life and tremendous stress.
Stress is a physical and emotional response to what occurs around us. However, everyone responds differently to stressors. Some may get excited by stress, and others depressed and worried. That is why researchers pay massive attention to internal stressors as they decide our response to stressors. Nonetheless, one cannot exclude that some external factors are always in the play.
One should indeed start by changing their stress responses. However, it is equally vital to identify the external stressors. For most individuals, external stressors differ. For example, it may be financial insecurity for some, while for others, it may be emotional insecurity. While in others, some physical diseases may cause stress. Quite often, some upcoming events may become sources of stress like forthcoming exams, business travel, some event at the job, and so on.
Understanding the needs to overcome stress
One needs to overcome stress, as humans are living with more stress than their bodies can handle. Most biological stress responses like the secretion of various hormones are essential to support the body. Thus, cortisol tries to provide greater energy, reduce pain sensation. On the other hand, vasopressin may stimulate the heart, increase blood pressure.
All these stress hormones are indeed good and defensive responses. However, the human body is not created to remain continually under stress. Continuously high level of these hormones like cortisol and vasopressin does more damage than good. They weaken immunity, bones, alter behavior, cause hypertension and numerous other diseases.
So, what is the way out? One should start by identifying the external stressors and then work on improving internal responses to the stress.
Identifying external stressors is not that easy. In many cases, people feel stressed, and yet they are unsure of what is causing that stress. It is because, in most cases, there are multiple external stressors, and not one.
Below are some familiar sources of external stressors:
- Financial issues and related worries
- Overworked and too busy to take a break
- Children or other family matters
- Difficulties in relationships
- Problems at work or school
- Major adverse events like loss of loved one, change of home or career, divorce, and so on.
Once the person has honestly jotted down all the external stressors, it would be easier to work on them. In most cases, one would be amazed to see that many of these external stressors are pretty manageable. Moreover, maintaining a journal of stressors would help show how many of these problems were assumed to be there or vanished without much effort. Nonetheless, some external stressors are more severe and cause serious emotional trauma. Thus, one may need some extra efforts to manage some external stressors.
Related: Best Ways to Manage Stress Naturally