What is stress?
Some of the symptoms and effects of stress include feeling tense, trapped, keyed up, nervous, not able to concentrate. It can cause aggression, irritability, being obsessive about working, and changes in eating, drinking and smoking habits.
On the health front, stress can mean headaches, exhaustion, upset stomachs, high blood pressure, breathing difficulties and neck and back troubles. All these are negative and debilitating.
Stress should not however be confused with pressure. Pressure can be stimulating or irritating but it is not debilitating. We all need a certain amount of pressure in our everyday lives to function and for a lot of people increased pressure can be exciting, motivating and energising.