Endocrinologist Hans Selye conceived the concept of stress as a “non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” in 1936. Nearly 75 years later, scientists continue to study the physiological effects of stress on the human body. Too much stress can harm your mental and physical health--it has been linked to such illnesses as heart disease and depression. InfoAging.org divides potential stressors into five categories.
Change
While people often think stress is the result of negative experiences, the reality is both negative and positive events can lead to anxiety. Change of any type is one of the major causes of stress--even changes for the better. For example, while you'll feel feel stressed if you lose your job, you also may feel on edge after receiving a job offer for a more lucrative position.
Fear
Fear, which is defined as a sense of apprehension or dread, also is a major cause of stress. People often are stressed because of psychological issues. For instance, the fear of failure, rejection or even spiders can lead to stress. Physical experiences also can result in fear and stress. If you're afraid of heights, for example, you'll probably feel anxious if you have to visit the top floor of a skyscraper.
Uncertainty
The unknown often evokes feelings of uncertainty. In some ways, uncertainty goes hand in hand with fear because people often fear unfamiliar situations, people or places. Uncertainty generally stems from an unpleasant sense of being “out of control.” While a small amount of uncertainty can be pleasurable, extended amounts of uncertainty may stress your body.
Attitude
Your attitude--which includes your mental system of beliefs, values and disposition--plays a large part in how you handle situations. For example, your attitude will determine whether you approach a potential problem as an unconquerable obstacle or as a thrilling challenge. If you have a positive attitude, you can turn potential problems into sources of motivation. However, a negative attitude will turn your potential problems into stressors.
Perception
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines perception as a “quick, acute and intuitive cognition.” How you perceive an event and your ability to handle that event has a large effect on whether you experience the event as a stressor. Your perception is determined by a complex variety of influences, including your personal history, resources, self-esteem, sense of competency, and the opinions and influence of the people around you. These influences make perception a very individualized characteristic. For this reason, two people experiencing the same event may have different reactions. One person may feel anxious while the second person handles the event with equanimity.
