Everyone knows what it means when they say they are “stressed out” But what is stress its self?

Stress is your body’s response to anything that disrupts your normal life and routines. The causes of stress can be everyday events and changes, such as relationships, work, money, and difficult decisions. They can also be traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one, natural disasters, and trauma. The good news is that people are resilient. We can recognize stress as a natural response to changes and challenges, and we can learn how best to respond to these cues when managing stress.

Seven things you should know about Stress and Anxiety

1. Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide

2. In 2008, more than half of Canadians reported fatigue, irritability, sleeplessness, and headaches due to stress

3. In 2008, Canadians reported their top three causes of stress as money, the economy, and work

4. Millions of Canadians experience anxiety disorders every year

5. People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor, usually for physical symptoms brought on by the anxiety

6. People with anxiety disorders frequently also experience mood disorders or substance abuse

7. There are effective treatments for anxiety disorders, including cognitive behavioral therapy and medication


Stress relief can take many forms. Resilience strategies can help you cope with the physical and emotional signs of stress. Other attempts at managing stress, such as smoking, substance abuse, and overeating, may make you feel better for a short time, but they pose big risks to your health. Developing positive coping strategies, on the other hand, leads to greater resilience and well-being over the long term.

Coping with stress

When you are experiencing a high level of stress, you can change the situation or change your response to it. To change the situation, you can use problem-solving skills to avoid, reduce, or change the stressful situation. To change your response, you can accept the stressful situation or adapt to it. You can also establish habits that put you and your health first and help you bounce back from stress when it gets overwhelming.



To change the stressful situation, you can:

• Set boundaries, learn to say no, and look for ways to trim back your to-do list and calendar.

• Spend time with people whose company you enjoy and, as much as you can, limit the time and energy you spend on people who stress you out.

• Change your environment: do errands online, change your commute, take a break from the news, take a walk to get away from the workplace at break time, set up some time to be alone.

• Express your feelings assertively and respectfully and be prepared to negotiate and compromise with others in order to improve a situation.

Not all situations can be changed. To change your own response to stress, you can:

• Try to reframe the situation. Focus on any positive aspects you can find. For example, rather than fuming about your boss, try focusing on the advantages of having a job and the things you like about it.

• Take the long view. Ask yourself what’s going to matter to you tomorrow, in a month, or a year from now.

• Avoid the trap of perfectionism. Learn to be satisfied with “good enough,” in yourself and others.

• Recognize what is beyond your control, and focus your energy on things you can do something about.

• Learn to forgive. You can free yourself of negative energy if you let go of anger and resentments.



Healthy habits that will help you bounce back from stress quickly:

• Talk things over with others. Sharing your feelings with people who are in your corner can help you process and move on.

• Make time for yourself. Set aside time every day to be alone, to relax, and to enjoy your favorite activities.

• Keep a sense of humor. Learn to laugh at yourself, and look for the funny and absurd in a stressful situation.

• Eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and avoid substances that can mask your stress, such as alcohol and drugs.