THE COMPLEXITY OF STRESS

Part 1 - Stressors

Stress is a complex matter. There is no simple equation which tells us that stressor x will cause y degree of stress in any person. We are each unique beings, who move through life experiencing different combinations and degrees of pressure and reacting in different ways. The diagram aside is my attempt to illustrate the interaction of major identified stressors on ourselves. The rest of this section explains in more detail how each component of the complex fits together.

STRESSORS WITHIN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

We all exist in the physical environments of our living, working and leisure places. Like plants, each of us has our own optimum physical conditions for growth. Some plants thrive in the arid conditions of the desert. Some will not develop unless they are covered with snow for much of the growing season. However, all plants share basic needs for a level of water, warmth, air and light.

So with people. Some crave the quiet environment of the countryside whilst others prefer the excitement and lights of the city. But we are all prone to stress if we are kept for too long in what is for us the "wrong" physical conditions. While we do have individual differences, it is also possible to identify a number of areas where the physical environment can cause stress for most humans.

The following are some of the more common sources of stress from our physical environment.

  • Weather: too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. Seasonal affective disorder.

  • General environment: graffiti, rubbish, fouling of the streets, aggressive advertising

  • Road conditions: overcrowded roads, public transport, aggressive drivers

  • Noise: high levels of noise at work. Unwanted noise at home intrudes on private space.

  • Poor air quality from: smoking, air conditioning, heating, ionisation by electrical equipment, overcrowding, pollution, solvents in e.g. carpets and furniture, excess humidity or dryness.

  • Lighting: bad lighting can cause eye strain and increase fatigue, as can light that is too bright, or light that shines directly into your eyes. Fluorescent lighting can also be tiring. Quality of light is also important. Most people are happiest in bright sunshine.

  • Decoration and tidiness: if your environment at work or home is dirty, drab, uncomfortable, neglected or badly organised, this can cause stress. (It’s important, however, not to be dogmatic about tidiness.)

  • Furniture: muscular tension and pain caused by bad furniture, or bad use of good furniture.

  • Personal space: It is important to have sufficient personal space at work and at home. Dissatisfaction, stress and irritation is caused by lack of power to organise and control the space in which you operate. Other people can also cause you stress when they impose themselves on your personal space, perhaps entering it uninvited.

STRESSORS FROM OTHER EXTERNAL SOURCES

Within the physical environment, we can also be subjected to the range of stressors which I have categorised under four main headings. Everyone reading this will be able to add to the lists below, which are simply examples of the more commonly identified external stressors.

Relationships

  • Death of a life partner or spouse

  • Death of a close family member

  • Divorce

  • Marital or life partner separation

  • Marriage

  • Marital reconciliation

  • Change in number of arguments with partner

  • Gain of new family member

  • Death of close friend

Work/lack of it

  • Losing job & unemployment

  • Retirement

  • Changes in organisation of work

  • Change to a different occupation or new job

  • Work load - too much or too little

  • Working relationships - colleagues, customers

  • Hours - too long or too short

  • Culture & climate

  • Conflict between work and home

External Events

  • Change in health of family member

  • Witnessing traumatic events

  • Reading/hearing about tragic events

  • "Acts of God"

  • Holidays

  • Encountering incompetence in officialdom

Personal Events

  • Puberty

  • Pregnancy

  • Menopause

  • Retirement

  • "Significant" birthdays

  • Personal injury or illness

  • Mortgage or other major loan

  • Change in financial state

  • Prison sentence
Next The complexity of stress part 2

Back To Stress Contents

Home