What Causes Stress - Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Stress is often hard to identify because no two person has the same causes of stress. Things like job loss, breaking up with a loved one, and health issues are just some of the things that can cause stress. The way people respond to these life-changing events is different. Some experience anxiety and others seem to be coping just fine. To some, these events are just new challenges that are going to lead to new opportunities.

There can be both internal and external causes of stress in a person's life.

If someone loses a job, he may wonder how he is going to pay his bills and buy food for his family. Someone else may look at the job loss as a chance to experience new things and try a new career. To some, these events are welcome changes that bring new opportunities.

When a relationship of any kind ends, no matter what type of relationship, people can either feel despondent or they can look at it not as losing someone but a chance to open their lives up to new people and explore new relationships.

Often, people from the same culture will respond in similar ways to stressful events in their lives. People with the same culture have a lot of the same background but also the same risks.

Something like running into a dangerous criminal are going to cause stress for everyone. Health issues like cancer or a big operation are something that are going to be a cause of stress for most people. Sometimes, less severe events cause people to feel stress and anxiety as well. Something like trouble with a co-worker or an argument with a neighbor can make anyone feel stressed and anxious.

Often, people feel stress because of what they expect to happen and how they feel about reaching their goals and not what is going on around them.

A tumor that has to be taken out is going to be a cause of stress for most people but a person in good overall health will have a better attitude and that can help them cope with the stress. If someone gets fired from his job  but he knows he has the skills to find a new one, he is going to deal with the stress of the situation better than someone who is less confident.

How people deal with stress is affected by how severe it is and how long it lasts. Attitude is important for dealing with stress. You need to think positively and have a positive attitude when you are faced with stress.