4. External Sources - When you have to deal with a stressful situation (e.g. onset of exams or death in the family, to name a few), it can decrease the amount of stress felt if you have one or more people to share your feelings with. It is much harder to cope when you feel as if you are all alone and have to deal with a situation by yourself.

Summing Up
The severity that a stressor may present for you is directly related to the characteristics of the stressor itself, how you feel about yourself and your capacity, and at what stage of life you are at.

Stress that is perceived as severe from the above mentioned factors, can result in a person being totally overwhelmed by a situation and experiencing a complete breakdown in which all bodily and/or psychological functions may be hampered (impaired).