What is stress?
For many years there has been much debate and theory about what stress is and
what stress is not. We all know intuitively what it is because we all experience it,
when preparing for an exam, for example, or experiencing problems at work.
Defining stress, however, is not so easy. The most commonly accepted definition
of the word is by psychologist Richard S. Lazarus. He describes stress as a
condition or feeling that is experienced when a person thinks that they do not have
the ability to deal with the demands that are put on them.
Hans Selye, who carried out research into stress in the 1950s, argued that ‘stress
is not necessarily negative – it all depends on how you take it. The stress of
exciting, creative or successful work is a positive thing, while that of failure,
humiliation or infection is not.’ Selye’s ideas still have a lot of truth in them,
although since that time much more research has been conducted and new ideas
have evolved. Long-term stress, it is generally agreed, is a ‘negative’, producing a
range of harmful effects. These same effects have rarely been observed in positive
situations.
Everyone responds differently to stressful events. That stress response is part
instinct and part to do with our personalities and how we think and behave. And
even if we experience strong negative reactions when we are stressed, we can
train our minds how to best respond to the events in our lives which cause that
stress.
In 1932, Walter Cannon carried out research into how people react when they are
stressed or in great danger. His work proved that when someone experiences a
shock or thinks they are in danger, they react instantly by releasing hormones that
help them to survive. These hormones allow for greater speed and strength.
People also focus all of their attention on the danger, and ignore anything else that
is going on nearby. All of this results in a greater ability to survive life-threatening
events.
This mobilization of the body to spring into survival mode also has negative
consequences. We become excitable, anxious and irritable. This state can reduce
our ability to be most effective. With shakiness and a pounding heart, we can find it
difficult to carry out controlled skills. We find that we are more accident-prone and
less able to make good decisions. Over an extended period of time, this can result
in health problems. To avoid long-term stress, we need to acquire a controlled and
socially sensitive approach to life. In some cases, this may require a complete
change of lifestyle.
