Stress is a natural part of our lives. Stress is our bodies’ response to the changing environment and the events we experience in our lives. If you feel stressed out, you’re not alone. In fact, 28% of Canadian adults between the ages of 34 and 54 reported being stressed daily (Statistics Canada, 2008). The good news is stress can be managed. It’s important to understand your stressors so you can be better prepared to deal with them.

Stressors
Many life events can cause feelings of stress. These events are known as stressors. Stressors can be major or minor. Events such as job loss, getting married, moving to a new school, and losing a loved one are major stressors. On the other hand, being stuck in traffic, having an argument with a family member, meeting work deadlines, and running late to an appointment are minor stressors.

Stressors Good Stress (Eustress) and Bad Stress (Distress)
Some stress is actually good for us. Eustress is the positive stress that keeps us on our toes and motivates us to achieve a certain goal. This type of stress can be managed because we feel in control of the situation. For example, a little bit of stress from your boss may drive you to work harder to meet a deadline. Likewise, feeling a small amount of stress over an upcoming exam may motivate you to study harder and achieve a higher grade.

On the other hand, some stressors can be negative. Distress is caused by stressors that bring about negative feelings such as anger, frustration, and sadness. For example, getting a speeding ticket may cause distress because you may feel upset and angry.

Stress can be acute (i.e., short-term) or chronic (i.e., long-term). Acute stress is our bodies’ response to an unexpected, immediate event (e.g., a near miss at a traffic light). This type of stress is short in duration and passes fairly quickly. Chronic stress is long-lasting because we have to deal with the same stressor on an ongoing basis (e.g., caring for a high needs parent or child). Chronic stress is worse for your overall health than acute stress. It increases your risk of developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease (The Psychology Foundation of Canada, 2009).

It’s important to know what type of stress we’re experiencing so we can develop a plan to manage it.

Managing Stress There are three different methods that most of us use to deal with stress. Depending on the issue, we may use one, two, or all three methods to manage a particular stressor. The three different coping methods are listed below.

Task-oriented: the individual focuses on the situation, and deals with it in a positive way. For example, they may work with a banker or financial consultant to deal with overdue bills and money problems.

Emotion-oriented: the individual focuses on their feelings and tries to find social support to deal with the situation they’re facing. For example, they may ask their friends and family for support if they are having trouble dealing with a failing relationship.

Distraction-oriented: the individual tries to avoid the situation by taking their mind off the problem. In other words, out of sight, out of mind. For example, the individual might go shopping to avoid a stressful situation at home.

It’s important to keep in mind that the method or methods we use to deal with stress depend on the situation we’re faced with. Also, different methods of managing stress are effective for different people.

Tips to Reduce Stress
Below are just a few tips that can help you reduce your stress level:
•    Be physically active.
•    Eat a healthy diet.
•    Set realistic goals.
•    Don’t overcommit your time or money.
•    Do something you love (e.g., a hobby).
•    Spend time with friends and family.
•    Make time for yourself.
•    Ask for help.

When Stress is Taking Over
If you’re feeling stressed and can’t manage it yourself, there are many resources that can help. Talk to your health care provider about the services available in your community. You can also contact your human resources contact or union representative for help in accessing the employee supports available at your workplace.

KEY REFERENCES:

Ben-Zur, H. (2009). Coping styles and affect. International Journal of Stress Management, 16(2), 87-101.

Canadian Mental Health Association & Heart & Stroke Foundation. (2009). Coping with stress. Retrieved June 14,

2010, from http://www.heartandstroke.com/atf cf/%7B 99452D8B-E7F1-4BD6-A57DB136CE6C95BF%7D/ coping-with-stress-en.pdf

The Psychology Foundation of Canada. (2009). Managing to manage workplace stress. Retrieved June 17, 2010, from

http://www.psychologyfoundation.org/pdf/publications_managing_to_manage.pdf

McLaughlin, K. A., & Hatzenbuehler, M. L. (2009). Stressful life events, anxiety, sensitivity, and internalizing symptoms in adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118(3), 659-669.

Statistics Canada. (2008). Perceived life stress. Retrieved June 21, 2010, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-625-x/2010001/article/11108-eng.htm