Throughout our lives we are constantly subjected to stressful situations and emotional traumas, starting with being separated from our mothers at birth. We then experience stress when we are hungry and need changing or a hug and as we grow up our interactions with other people generate stress such as: gaining parents and peers approval, pressure to succeed at school, work or in other areas of life, forming relationships and relationship breakdowns, bereavement, personal or family health problems. If our work and home lives are creating conflicting demands excessive stress may prevail.

Common causes of stress include:

• Work life
• Finding work
• A job promotion
• Unemployment
• Commuting
• Environmental factors (such as external toxins, tobacco, pollution, alcohol, food)
• Bereavement
• Divorce of separation
• Holidays
• Ill health within the family
• Exams
• Moving house
• Driving
• Shopping
• Having children
• Children leaving home
• Caring for dependents
• Money worries
• Changes in personal habits e.g. going on a diet, giving up smoking
• Illness and injuries

Our survival depends on how we respond to physical and social demands. Long-term exposure to stress hormones can have very negative consequences.