Stress is a normal reaction to competing demands and pressures. The experience of stress can be thought of as a mental or emotional strain or tension.

When a person is a stressed, they may feel angry, irritable, overly sensitive, and anxious and have the urge to withdraw from people. They may be thinking “There’s too much to do”, “I don’t have time to do all this” or “I can’t cope” and a small request from a loved one may be met with irritation. A person may experience physical symptoms such as stomach issues, headaches, muscle aches and pains, or insomnia. The danger with stress is that the impacts often develop slowly, so a person may minimise their situation and not seek help. Instead, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs or other unhealthy coping strategies may be used to try and continue to meet demands.

When stress is chronic a person may eventually experience what is referred to as “Burn Out”. Burn out leads to feelings of ineffectiveness, lack of accomplishment, cynicism, detachment, and physical and emotional exhaustion. When a person is severely burnt out, they are no longer able to function personally or professionally and may develop Depression or an Anxiety Disorder.

Symptoms of burnout include; chronic fatigue, insomnia, inability to concentrate or sustain attention, forgetfulness, physical symptoms of anxiety such as shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, loss of enjoyment, isolation, detachment, irritability, and poor performance at work, school, or home.

The impacts of chronic stress or burn out can have serious and prolonged consequences on physical, mental and emotional health. Research suggests that chronic stress has been linked to high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and heart disease.