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Wellness Module 2: Stress and Well-Being

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Having trouble coping?
Stressed out?
Feeling overwhelmed?

If your answer is YES, you are not alone. Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Some people, though, say that they feel very stressed most of the time. While stress isn’t always bad, too much stress can affect your well-being.

 

What causes stress?

Stress comes up when you feel like the demands of a situation or event are too much to manage. It can come up with everyday situations, such as:

  • Managing demands at work or school

  • Managing long-term health problems

  • Dealing with inequalities

  • Managing relationships

Stress can also come up in response to a specific event or situation. Both positive and negative life events can be stressful, especially those that involve major changes to your regular routines. Here are some examples:

  • Changes in a relationship

  • Changes in housing arrangements

  • The death of a family member or friend

  • Losing a job or other source of income

As stress is based on the way you see a situation or event, things that cause stress are based on your own situation. Different people may find that different things are stressful.

How you feel when issues come up can also affect they way you experience stress. If you feel well and in control, a problem may not seem very stressful. However, if you already feel stressed or overwhelmed, the same problem may add to your existing stress and feel very overwhelming.

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Are you experiencing signs of stress?

Stress can affect your body, your behaviours, your feelings and your thoughts. Here are common signs of stress: 

Changes in your body

  • Tense muscles

  • Rapid breathing and heart rate

  • Headaches

  • Difficulties sleeping well

  • Fatigue

Changes in your behaviours

  • Withdrawing from others

  • Fidgeting, feeling restless

  • Smoking, drinking or using more drugs than usual

  • Avoiding situations that you think are stressful

Changes in your feelings

  • Feeling worried or confused

  • Feeling angry or irritable

  • Feeling overwhelmed or helpless

  • Feeling like you can’t cope

Changes in your thoughts

  • Struggling to concentrate, remember or make decisions

  • Losing your self-confidence

  • Having a negative attitude towards yourself and your life

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Canadian stress statistics

Many Canadians report that stress negatively impacts their lives

  • 48% Sleep quality

  • 41% Personal health   

  • 33% Home or family   

  • 23% Quality of sex life   

  • 23% Quality of work 

Many Canadians report that stress positively impacts their lives

  • 46% I exercise in response to stress

  • 48% Stress is proof I am involved in important things

  • 31% Stress improves the quality of my work

Who is most at risk for high levels of stress?

  • Women

  • Younger adults

  • People with few social supports

  • People who expect too much of themselves

  • People with high levels of responsibilities and duties

  • People who see stress negatively or believe they can’t cope with it

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Why does stress make me feel so awful?

At times, stress can have a negative effect on the basic dimensions of health (your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body reactions). Stress is more likely to have a negative impact on your health if you feel threatened or at risk of danger or loss. Stress may also affect your health if you use unhealthy behaviours to cope. The negative effects of stress on your wellness can become a source of stress in and of themselves. Just talk to anyone who isn’t sleeping well due to stress! For more information about the dimensions of mental health that can be influenced by stress, see Wellness Module 1: Mental Health Matters.

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Can stress be a good thing?

Sometimes, stress can have a positive effect on your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and body reactions. Stress is more likely to result in positive outcomes if you see it as a challenge or something you can strive to overcome. It can help motivate you to work hard. Stress can also lead to positive effects if you respond with healthy behaviours that improve your situation. You can experience the positive effects of stress even in the face of some negative effects.

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Stress and Illness

Your stress levels and your coping skills can also influence your physical health. Higher levels of stress can increase the risk of illness. For example, you’re more likely to catch a cold or the flu when you’re coping with high levels of stress. There is also evidence that stress can aggravate disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes, multiple sclerosis and more. Some of the connections between stress and illness are determined by the ways you cope with stress.

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Coping with stress

There is no right or wrong way to cope with stress. What works for one person may not work for another, and what works in one situation may not work in another situation. Below, you will find common ways to cope with stress and maintain wellness.

Focus on what you can do

There is usually something you can do to manage stress in most situations.

  • Resist the urge to give up or run away from problems—these coping choices often make stress worse in the long run

Manage your emotions

Feelings of sadness, anger or fear are common when coping with stress.

  • Try not to bottle your emotions up. Try expressing your feelings by talking or writing them down

  • Try not to lash out at other people. Yelling or swearing usually pushes people away when you need them the most

  • Many of the coping strategies listed below are useful ways of managing your emotions

Seek out support

Seeking social support from other people is helpful—especially when you feel you can’t cope on your own.Family, friends, co-workers and health professionals can all be important sources of support.

  • Ask someone for their opinion or advice on how to handle the situation

  • Get more information to help make decisions

  • Accept help with daily tasks and responsibilities, such as chores or child care

  • Get emotional support from someone who understands you and cares about you

Focus on the positives

This is one of the hardest things to do when coping with stress. At times, it can seem impossible. Dwelling on the negatives often adds to your stress and takes away your motivation to make things better.

  • Focus on strengths rather than weaknesses—remind yourself that no one is perfect

  • Look for the challenges in a situation by asking, “What can I learn from this?” or, “How can I grow as a person?”

  • Try to keep things in perspective

  • Try to keep a sense of humour

  • Remind yourself you are doing the best you can given the circumstances

Make a plan of action

Problem-solving around aspects of a situation that you can control is one of the most effective ways to lower your stress.

Try breaking a stressful problem into manageable chunks.

Think about the best way to approach the problem. You may decide to put other tasks on hold to concentrate on the main problem, or you may decide to wait for the right time and place to act.

  • Identify and define the problem

  • Determine your goal

  • Brainstorm possible solutions

  • Consider the pros and cons of each possible solution

  • Choose the best solution for you—the perfect solution rarely exists

  • Put your plan into action

  • Evaluate your efforts and choose another strategy, if needed

See our Wellness Module on problem-solving.

Self-Care

Taking good care of yourself can be difficult during stressful times, but self-care can help you cope with problems more effectively. The trick to self-care is to look for little things you can do everyday to help yourself feel well.

Here are some self-care activities to try. Try to think of other activities that might help!

  • Eat healthy foods and drink lots of water throughout the day to maintain your energy

  • Try to exercise or do something active on a regular basis

  • Try to avoid using alcohol or drugs as a way to cope

  • Explore relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga

  • Try to balance work and play—too much work can eventually lead to burnout

  • Spend time on things you enjoy, such as hobbies or other activities

  • Get a good night’s sleep

Take care of your relationships

Family, friends and co-workers can be affected by your stress—and they can also be part of the problem.

Keep the feelings and needs of others in mind when coping with stress, but balance them with your own.

  • Be assertive about your needs rather than aggressive or passive. Being assertive means expressing your needs without hurting others

  • Try not to confront others in a mean-spirited or antagonizing manner

  • Accept responsibility, apologize or try to put things right when appropriate

  • Talk to others who are involved and keep them informed about your decisions

Spirituality

People who engage in a spiritual practice often experience lower levels of distress. If community is part of a spiritual practice, it may also offer helpful social support.

  • Consider spiritual practices that fit with your beliefs, such as prayer or meditation

  • Spend time at your place of worship or get together with others who share your beliefs

  • Talk with a respected member or leader of your spiritual community

Acceptance

There may be times when you can’t change something. This can be the most challenging aspect of coping with stress. Sometimes, all you can do is manage your distress or grief.

  • Denying that the problem exists may prolong your suffering and interfere with your ability to take action

  • Acceptance is a process that takes time. You may need to remind yourself to be patient

  • Death, illness, major losses or major life changes can be particularly difficult to accept

  • Try not to get caught up in wishful thinking or dwell on what could have been

Distraction

Distraction can be helpful when coping with short-term stress you can’t control, such as reading a magazine while getting dental work done.

Distraction can be harmful if it stops you from taking action on things you can control, such as watching TV when you have school or work deadlines to meet.

Distraction by using drugs, alcohol or over-eating often leads to more stress and problems in the long term.

Distraction by overworking at school or on the job can easily lead to burnout or other problems, like  family resentment.

You can do many things to take your mind off problems, such as:

  • Daydreaming

  • Going for a drive or walk

  • Leisure activities, exercise, hobbies

  • Housework, yard work or gardening

  • Watching TV or movies

  • Playing video games

  • Spending time with friends or family

  • Spending time with pets

  • Surfing the Internet or sending e-mail

  • Sleeping or taking a short nap

When used for short periods of time, many of these forms of distraction create opportunities to take a break and refuel—an important part of self-care.

If you feel like you can’t cope, try these options

  • Talk to someone that cares about you. They may be able to provide help and support.

  • Seek professional help as early as possible. Talk to your family doctor or mental health care provider, or visit a drop-in clinic or the hospital emergency room.

Try these helpful numbers:

  • Crisis Line: Call 310-6789 (no area code) to connect to a crisis line in BC

  • Kids’ Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 (free call anywhere in Canada)

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Stress survey: what types of stress are you coping with?

Problem solving the controllable aspects of a stressful situation is one of the most effective ways to lower our stress. Identifying the problem and breaking it down into manageable chunks is the first step in creating a plan of action.

You can use this survey to help identify the different sources of stress in your life, and to track your progress in coping with them in a healthy way. Check the boxes beside the sentences you feel apply to you, then brainstorm strategies for coping with or solving each problem. See the Coping with Stress section of this wellness module for more information and tips on how to ensure your coping choices lead to reductions in stress and a healthier, more fulfilling life for you and your loved ones. Try taking the survey once a month to track patterns in your behaviour - and the positive and negative ways you manage stress.

General Stress Issues

You're trying to take on too many things at once

There is too much pressure on you to be like other people

Too much is expected of you by others

You or a loved one have recently achieved a major goal

Work/School

You have a lot of conflict with your boss or teacher

You have a lot of conflict with your co-workers or classmates

You have experienced major changes in your hours or responsibilities at work

Someone is always observing or supervising what you do at work or school

You are often very tired at the end of work or school

You don't get paid enough for what you do

Your work or school work is boring and repetitive

Your current job is a dead-end job with little room for promotion

You have no control over the pace of work or school

You want to change jobs or career but don't feel you can

You are looking for a job and can't find the one you want

You feel like being a homemaker is not appreciated

You want to achieve more at work/school but things get in the way

You or your spouse/partner recently started a new job/school

You or your spouse/partner recently lost your job or quit school

You have an unusual amount of work/homework these days

You or your spouse/partner recently retired

You or your spouse/partner are changing to a different line of work

Health

You or a loved one recently experienced a major injury or health problem

A long-term illness prevents you from doing things you like to do

Someone in your family or a close friend has a long-term illness or handicap

Someone in your family or a loved one has an alcohol or drug problem

A loved one is in bad health and may die soon

A loved one recently died or you are still actively grieving a loved one

You have experienced problems or changes in your eating patterns

You have experienced problems or changes in your sleeping habits

You have a disability that makes you feel dependent on others

Love and Marriage

You recently became engaged or married

You recently started living together with your romantic partner

You recently started a new romantic relationship

Your relationship restricts your freedom

You have recently separated or divorced

You have too little time to talk to your spouse/partner

Your spouse/partner does not understand you or expects too much of you

You and your spouse/partner have different social needs

You don't get what you deserve out of your relationship

Your spouse/partner doesn't show enough affection

Your spouse/partner is not committed enough to your relationship

Your sexual needs are not fulfilled by this relationship

You are distressed or confused about your sexual orientation

Your sexual orientation is creating difficulties with family, friends or community

There are too many changes in your relationship with others

You are alone too much

You wonder whether you will ever get married (or get married again)

Your spouse/partner is always threatening to leave or end the relationship

You find it is too difficult to find someone compatible with you

You have a lot of conflict with your spouse/partner or ex-spouse/ex-partner

You and your spouse/partner recently reconciled after being apart

Money and Financial Matters

Your rent or mortgage is too high

You have a long-term debt or loan

You don't have enough money to take vacations

You don't have enough money to fix things

You are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure on a loan/mortgage

Substantial decrease or increase in money or income

A recent windfall (e.g., inheritance, lottery winnings) is causing conflict or major life changes

Your income is unstable - perhaps due to temporary or contract work, a new business or difficulties getting work

You don’t have enough money to buy the things you or your kids need

Social Life and Recreation

You don't have enough time for a social life

Your friends are a bad influence

You have to go to social events alone and you don't want to

You are about to go on vacation

You don't have time for your favourite leisure time activities

A major celebration or get-together is taking place

Legal & Criminal Matters

You or a loved one have been detained in jail or prison

You or a loved one facing minor law violation (speeding ticket, etc)

You or a loved one are facing major criminal charges

You are coping with some other form of legal problem or procedure

You are often afraid you will be attacked or robbed

You or a loved one is coping with a court case or trial

Religion/Faith/Spirituality

Your church/religion/spiritual practice demands too much

You recently started or stopped attending religious or spiritual activities

You are not satisfied with your current church, temple, mosque, or synagogue

Your family or a loved one disagrees with your religious or spiritual views

You are struggling with a religious or spiritual issue

Family and Children

A relative is moving in with you

You are gaining a new family member via birth or adoption

You wish you could have children but you cannot

One of your children seems very unhappy

One or more children spend too much time away from the house

You feel your children don't listen to you

One or more children do not do well enough at school

One of your children is leaving home

There have been increases or decreases in the number of family get-togethers

Your children don't help around the house

You think you are not a good parent

There is fighting and conflict among family members

You are not satisfied with your family

You are a single parent and it seems like you have to do twice as much

Residence

You want to live closer to or further away from your family

You would like to move but you cannot

The place you live is too noisy or polluted

There are high rates of crime in your neighbourhood

Your family lives too far away

You recently moved your residence

Your home is damaged or deteriorating

You are renovating or remodelling your home

Adapted from: Holmes and Rahe, 1967; Wheaton, 1997.

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