Stress is simply a fact of nature -- forces from the
inside or outside world affecting the individual. The individual responds to
stress in ways that affect the individual as well as their environment. Because
of the overabundance of stress in our modern lives, we usually think of stress
as a negative experience, but from a biological point of view, stress can be a
neutral, negative, or positive experience.
In general, stress is related to both external and
internal factors. External factors include the physical environment, including
your job, your relationships with others, your home, and all the situations,
challenges, difficulties, and expectations you're confronted with on a daily
basis. Internal factors determine your body's ability to respond to, and deal
with, the external stress-inducing factors. Internal factors which influence
your ability to handle stress include your nutritional status, overall health
and fitness levels, emotional well-being, and the amount of sleep and rest you
get.
Stress has driven evolutionary change (the
development and natural selection of species over time). Thus, the species that
adapted best to the causes of stress (stressors) have survived and evolved into
the plant and animal kingdoms we now observe.
[Via MedicineNet.com]
