What Can Lead to Stress?

Stress generally comes from four main areas...

Environmental factors such as excessive noise, bad weather or natural disasters, busy traffic, pollution, problems with roommates or neighbors

Social factors including deadlines, financial problems, group projects, disagreements, demands on time and attention, dating, balancing work and school, loss of a loved one, conflicts with family

Physiological factors such as adolescence, illness, accidents, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, alcohol or drug use/abuse, sleep disturbances, muscle tension, headaches, upset stomach

Thoughts, including our perception of events, expecting too much from others, making decisions, having a pessimistic attitude, expecting problem-free living, worrying, being perfectionistic, being competitive, being self-critical, making assumptions