The document discusses various causes of stress, both personal and social. It outlines many common personal stressors such as work, financial issues, health concerns, academics, life transitions, relationships, trauma, and lifestyle choices. Social stressors mentioned include social expectations, discrimination, inequality, social isolation, and cultural influences. The document emphasizes that understanding an individual's specific stressors is important for effective stress management.

1. Prepared By: Prof Shweta Padanad

2. • Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to
address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone
experiences stress to some degree.
• Stress is a normal reaction the body has when changes
occur, resulting in physical, emotional and intellectual
responses.
• Stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or
threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation
that we don't feel we can manage or control.

3. • Stress is natural and common response to challenging
situations or demands, and it can affect people physically
and emotionally.
• While some stress can be motivating and help us perform
better in certain situations, chronic or excessive stress
can have adverse effects on our health and well-being.
• Effective stress management is crucial for maintaining
over all well-being. Here are some key aspects of stress
and strategies for managing it

4. TYPES OF STRESS:
Acute Stress: short-term stress that results from immediate challenges
or situations, such as a deadline or traffic jam.
Chronic Stress: Long-term stress that persists over an extended period,
often due to ongoing issues like work-related stress, financial problems
or relationship difficulties.
Episodic Acute stress: Frequent episodes of acute stress that may result
from a hectic lifestyle or chronic worry.
PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF STRESS:
• Stress can manifest physically through symptoms like headaches,
muscles tensions, digestive problems and sleep disturbance.
• Psychological effects may include anxiety, irritability, mood swings
and difficulty concentrating.

5. Identify Stressors: Recognize the source of stress in
your life, whether they are related to work, relationship,
financial issues or other factors.
Healthy Lifestyle Choice:
• Eat a balanced diet: proper nutrition supports your body’s
ability to cope with stress.
• Regular exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins,
which are natural stress reducers.
• Get Enough Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for stress
recovery and overall well-being.

6. Relaxation Techniques: Practice relaxation techniques
such as deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle
relaxation or yoga to reduce tension and promote calm.
Time management:
• Prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively to reduce
feelings of being overwhelmed.
• Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to make them
less daunting.
Social Support:
• Talk to friends, family or a therapist about your stressors.
Sharing your feelings can provide emotional relief and
perspective.
• Build a support network to lean on during challenging
times.

7. Mindfulness and Mind-Body practices:
• Engage in mindfulness meditation or tai chi to increase
awareness and reduce stress reactivity.
• These practices can help you stay grounded in the
present moment and manage stress better.
Set Realistic Expectations:
• Avoid setting overly high expectations for yourself, as
unrealistic goal can lead to stress and disappointment.
• Be flexible and open to adjusting your expectations when
necessary.
Problem Solving skills: Learn effective problem solving
techniques to address the root cause of stressors and find
constructive solutions.

8. Limit Stressors: Identify stressors that you can control or
eliminate and take action to reduce or avoid them when
possible.
Professional Help: If stress becomes overwhelming or
chronic, consider seeking help from a therapist or
counselor who specializes in stress management and
mental health.
Conclusion:
Remember that stress is a part of life, but how you respond
to it can greatly influence your well-being. Effective stress
management involves a combination of lifestyle changes,
relaxation techniques and coping strategies tailored to your
unique needs and circumstance. By taking protective steps
to manage stress, you can improve your over all health and
quality of life.

9. Introduction:
Stress is a natural and adaptive response to challenging or threatening
situations. It serves as a mechanism to help individuals respond to
various demands and cope with change. Understanding the nature and
cause of stress is essential for effective stress management.
Adaptive Response: stress is the body’s way of responding to
situations that require extra effort or attention. It can mobilize
resources, increase alertness and prepare the body for action, often
referred to as fight or flight response.
Physiological Response: stress triggers physiological changes
in the body, including the release of stress hormones like cortisol and
adrenaline. These changes can affect heart rate, blood pressure and
other bodily functions.

10. Individuals variation: People respond to stressors
differently. What is stressful for one person may not be
stressful for another. Individual factors such as genetics,
personality and past experience influence how people
perceive and react to stress.
Short-term vs. chronic stress: Short-term or acute stress
is a brief response to immediate challenges and typically
resolves once the situation is resolved. Chronic stress
, on the other hand, persists over an extended period and
can have negative health consequences.

11. Life Events: Majors life changes, both positive( e.g.,
marriage, childbirth) and negative(e.g., divorce, loss of
loved one), can be significant source of stress.
Work-related stress: job related pressure, such as heavy
workloads, tight deadlines, conflicts with colleagues or job
insecurity can lead work related stress.
Financial stress: Job-related issues, including debt,
financial instability and economic hardships, can be a
significant source of stress.
Relationships: conflicts breakups or difficulties in personal
relationships with family, friends or romantic partners can
cause emotional stress.

12. Academic stress: Students may experience stress due to
academic pressures, exams assignments and the fear of
failure.
Health issues: serious illness, chronic health conditions
or concern about one’s health or the health of a loved one
can be profoundly stressful.
Environmental stressors: environmental factors like noise,
pollution, traffic and overcrowding can contribute to stress,
particularly in urban areas.
Daily hassles: minor irritations and inconveniences in
daily life, such as traffic jams, long lines or computer
problems can accumulate and lead to stress.
Social and cultural factors: social expectations,
discrimination, societal norms, and cultural influences can
all contribute to stress.

13. Trauma: past traumatic experiences, including
physical or emotion al abuse, accidents or natural disasters
can lead to long term stress.
Life style choices: unhealthy habits like poor diet, lack of
exercise, excessive use of alcohol or drugs and inadequate
sleep can increase vulnerability to stress.
Conclusion:
it’s important to note that some stress is normal and can be
motivating. However, chronic stress can have adverse effects on
physical and mental health, contributing to conditions like
anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease and more.
Recognizing the causes of stress in your life and implementing
effective stress management techniques can help you mitigate
its negative impact and promote overall well-being.

14. Introduction:
Stress can arise from a wide range of personal and social
causes, as it often results from the interaction between an
individual and their environment. These causes can vary
significantly from person to person, but understanding them
is crucial for effective stress management. Here are some
common personal and social causes of stress:
Personal causes of stress:
Work-related stress:
oJob pressure, deadlines, excessive workload and job
insecurity can lead to significant stress.
oConflict with colleagues or supervisors can also be major
source of work-related stress.

15. Financial stress:
o Money related issues, such as debt , financial instability or the
inability to ,meet financial goals, can be a significant source
of stress.
o Unexpected expenses or job loss can create financial strain.
Health concern:
o Personal health issues, including chronic illness, serious
medical diagnoses or injuries can be highly stressful.
o Concerns about the health of a loved one can also trigger
stress.
Academic stress:
o Students may experience stress due to academic pressures,
exams, assignments, and the fear of failure.
o Balancing
academic responsibilities with other life demands can be
challenging.

16. Life transition:
o Major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, parenthood,
moving to new city, or retirement can bring both excitement and
stress.
o Adjusting to new roles and responsibilities can be demanding.
Personal relationship:
o Conflicts, breakups or difficulties in personal relationships with
family, friends can cause emotional stress.
o Caregiving responsibilities, such as taking care of aging
parents, can also be stressful.
Trauma and past experience:
o Past traumatic experiences, including physical or emotional
abuse, accidents or natural disasters, can lead to ongoing
stress and post traumatic stress disorders(PTSD)
o Unresolved past experiences can affect one’s mental and
emotional well-being.

17. Social causes of stress
social expectations:
Pressures to conform to societal norms and meet certain
expectations, whether related to appearance, career success, or life
milestone can be a source of stress.
Discrimination and inequality:
o Experiencing discrimination based on factors such as race, sexual
orientation or disability can lead to chronic stress.
o Economic and social inequalities can contribute to stress for
marginalized groups.
Social isolation:
Lack of social support and feelings of isolation can contribute to
stress. Loneliness and a lack of meaningful social connections can
negatively impact mental health.
Cultural influences:
Cultural factors and traditions can impact on individual’s stress levels,
as well their coping mechanisms and expectations.

18. Family and parenting stress:
oParenting challenges, such as the demands of childcare can
lead to stress.
oFamily conflicts, role expectations and responsibilities can also
be sources of stress.
Social environment:
Environment stressors, such as noise, pollution, overcrowding
and neighborhood violence can contribute to stress, particularly
in urban areas.
Conclusion:
it’s important to recognize that stress is a highly individualized
experience and what may be stressful for one person may not
be for another. Additionally, personal and social cause of stress
often interact, making it essential to consider the broader
context of an individuals life when addressing stress.

19. Introduction:
Stress can have significant effects on both physical and mental health.
While some stress is a normal and adaptive response to challenges,
chronic or excessive stress can lead to a wide range of health issues.
Understanding these effects is essential for recognizing the importance of
stress management and seeking appropriate support when needed. Here
are effects of stress on physical and mental health.
Physical effects of stress
Cardiovascular problems:
o Stress can lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which, if
chronic, can contribute to the development of heart rate diseases such
as hypertension and heart attack.
o It may also exacerbate existing cardiovascular conditions.

20. Immune system suppression:
oChronic stress can weaken the immune system, making
individuals more susceptible to infections and illness.
oIt may slow down the body’s ability to recover from
illnesses and injuries.
Gastrointestinal issues:
oStress can lead to digestive problems, including irritable
bowel syndrome(IBS), indigestion and stomach ulcers.
oIt can exacerbate symptoms of existing gastrointestinal
conditions.
Weight changes:
oStress can contribute to weight to gain or loss, as it can
affect appetite and eating behaviors.
oIt lead to unhealthy eating patterns, such as overeating or
under eating.

21. Muscle tension and pain:
oStress often results in muscle tensions, leading to
headaches, neck and back pain, and muscle aches.
oProlonged stress can contribute to the development of
chronic pain conditions.
Sleep problems:
oStress can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia,
restless sleep or frequent awakenings.
oPoor sleep can in turn, exacerbate and contribute to a
cycle of sleep disturbances.

22. Mental effects of stress
Anxiety and panic disorders:
o Stress is a common trigger for anxiety disorders, including
generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic
disorders.
o It can result in excessive worry, fear and panic attack.
Cognitive impairment:
o Stress can impair cognitive function, leading to difficulties with
memory, concentration, decision making and problem solving.
o It can effect work and academic performance.
Emotional changes:
o Stress can lead to mood swings, irritability and emotional
instability.
o It may result in heightened emotions, including anger and
frustration.

23. Substance abuse:
o Some individuals turn to alcohol, drugs or other substances as a
coping mechanism for stress, which can lead to substance abuse
disorders.
Suicidal thoughts and self-Harm:
o Severe and prolonged stress can contribute to feelings of hopeless
and despair, increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts or self-harming
behaviors.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD):
o Exposure to traumatic stressors can lead to the development of
PTSD, a mental health condition characterized by flashbacks,
nightmares and severe anxiety.
Conclusion:
Its important to recognize that the effects of stress on physical and
mental health can vary from person to person. Not everyone responds
to stress in the same way and some individuals may be more resilient
than others. seeking support from healthcare professionals, therapists
or support networks can be crucial for managing stress and its effects
on health.

24. Introduction:
Stress is a natural part of life and it can affect individuals in different ways.
Coping with stress is essential to maintaining physical and mental health.
Here are some tips and strategies for coping with stress:
Take care of your physical health.
Practice relaxation techniques.
Connect with others.
Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Set boundaries.
Make time for hobbies and interests.
Seek social support.
 seek professional help.
Identify source of stress.
Keep a positive attitude.
Conclusion:
Remember that coping with stress is not a one-size-fits-all approaches and
it may take some experiment to find what works best for you.