Definition Of Stress
On this page: Definition of stress. Stress causes and Symptoms of stress.
Note that the definition of stress does NOT point to the change itself, but our reaction to it. It is not what happens to us, but our reaction to what happens to us. That is good news, because, the definition implies it is something under our control. While we cannot control the changes that happen around us, we can certainly attempt to control how we REACT to those changes. "Life is 10 per cent what happens to us, and 90 per cent how we react to it." -Charles Swindoll What kind of "changes" cause stress? 
The changes that are the causes of stress could be internal or external. When our brain perceives that the change is a threat to our survival, it releases stress hormones, or cortisol, into our system to prepare us to FIGHT the change, or FLEE from it. These hormones are an absolute necessity, and are put to good use naturally, if the situation indeed is a real threat for our physical survival. Like in a situation where you are being attacked by a robber, for instance! However the unfortunate reality is, most of the situations we run into in our daily lives do not have anything to do with our physical survival. And consequently, most of these situations DO NOT warrant the release of these stress hormones into our system. And yet, because of the importance we consciously or unconsciously assign to these situations, these chemicals, by definition, do get released into our system on a daily basis. 
Something simple enough like not being organized can cause the release of these chemicals in our body. And our body reacts the same way to a perceived threat, as it does to a real threat, by releasing equal hormones as consistent with our definition of stress. "Our nervous system cannot tell difference between an imagined experience and real experience." -Maxwell Maltz Pain and Stress Reduction Article
So these stress hormones do not get used up for FIGHTING our threat, or FLEEING from it, which is the reason our body produced them in first place. So unless we engage ourselves in an activity that involves our physical and mental resources in an equivalent way - like exercise - these released chemicals continue to inhabit our system, and accumulate over time. "Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life." Check out the symptoms of stress if you think you have them, but unsure. Stress and Chest Pain. How Are They Related? How do these hormones that remain in our system affect us? They cause us to be constantly in an alarm state. They deprive us of our much needed sleep. 
We are on alert and constantly on the look out for the "enemy", in preparation to FIGHT it or FLEE from it. They impair our judgment, erode our self confidence, shake up our definition, and cause us to be irritable and angry all the time. Stress hormones are one of the most overlooked, but nevertheless, serious causes of memory loss. And worse, sometimes they cause the stress or fear to escalate into panic attacks as well. "Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older." Ideas for Overcoming Panic Attacks How To Prevent Stress? What do you do to prevent release of these stress hormones into our system? Follow these THREE rules:
Remember the definition of stress? Its about our reaction. Use the above rules to beat stress in its own game, by learning how NOT to react in ways consistent with the definition of stress as outlined earlier. If you are interested in non-addictive, natural remedies for stress relief, you can try the following:
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