The factors that contribute to the experience of stress are many and varied. Each of the lists below contains a sample of ideas only. There are many more causes of stress than those listed.
Biological
The causes of some stress lie in the biological make up of your body, or the interaction of your body with the food you eat or environment you live in. Some examples of the biological causes of stress include:
Lack of fitness.
Poor diet (eg: deficiency of vitamins; too much caffeine).
Changes in bodily functions, such as pregnancy, puberty, menopause, PMT or ageing.
Stress can be caused by a whole range of social and cultural pressures, such as:
Change of social circumstances (eg: bereavement of spouse, moving job, marriage, holidays).
Conflict in relationships, or an absence of praise and being valued by others.
Lack of support, time to be listened to, and time for relaxation.
The term 'psychodynamic' refers to subconscious thoughts and feelings, which often arise from childhood experiences. Examples of psychodynamic causes of stress include:
Encountering situations that evoke stressful feelings that were experienced in childhood.
Lack of self-awareness.
Increasing self awareness and personal growth.
The rational processes in our minds constantly interpret and evaluate the world around. Some examples of rational causes of stress include:
Perceiving the consequences of actions as being dangerous or threatening.
Having an inaccurate perception of self.
Not having the skill or knowledge to cope with certain situations.
