Life isn’t always smooth sailing. Periodic stress is a normal part of life! However, stress that goes on for a long time (chronic stress) should not be a normal part of life.
Every person handles stress differently. What I find stressful and what you find stressful may be two very different scenarios! Perception is a big part of how stressed you feel. One person may look at all the things you do in a day and think they would be stressed — yet you aren’t.
But because stress is so very personal, it may be hard to evaluate your stress level.
The first thing you need to do is look at what is causing you stress. Do you have an ongoing stressful situation at work or at home? Is a family member under stress? Are you taking care of someone with a chronic health problem? (Caretaking is a huge source of stress for many people.) Major life changes can be a source of ongoing stress, too. Look at any recent life changes — whether good or bad — to see if they might be causing you stress.
Once you figure out the possible sources of your stress, it’s time to look at how you respond to the pressure. Some people respond to stress by eating poorly, drinking alcohol, or smoking. Some people use sleep as an escape mechanism; others have difficulty getting a minimal amount of sleep each night. When I reach a certain level of stress, I tend to “turtle up” — I don’t want to see friends or talk on the phone. I just want to be alone… but I end up cutting myself off from my support system.
Stress itself can be harmful to your body. In the short term, stress activates your body’s fight-or-flight response and kicks into overdrive. But your body can’t sustain that level for long! Chronic stress begins to wear on your body. The unhealthy things you might do to cope with stress can also wear you down.
Take a look at your positive and negative (harmful) coping strategies. If you still aren’t sure what is causing your stress or what you’re doing to cope, you might want to keep a stress journal. Keep track of the times when you feel stressed, and what is happening at the time. Make note of what you do to feel better. A stress journal can help you identify the sources of stress and your coping strategies.