The Top 6 Sources of Stress

By Bethel Wagner - Practitioner at Sage Wellness Center

Stress. It’s nearly constant in the modern American lifestyle. But what exactly IS stress, how is it affecting us, and what can we do about it?


Simply defined, stress is ANYTHING that shifts the body away from its optimal state of balance, known as homeostasis. The body is not static. It is a dynamic system, ever shifting and changing to adapt to the circumstances and stimuli it encounters. When an input or stimulus is more than the body can keep pace with, it becomes a stressor.


There are 6 main sources of stress. Nearly every stressor you can think of fits into one of these categories. They are:

  1. Environmental stress

  2. Physical stress

  3. Mental stress

  4. Emotional stress

  5. Social stress

  6. Spiritual stress

Environmental Stress

Environmental stressors include:

  • Air, water, and soil pollution

  • Radiation from cell phones, wi-fi, electronics, etc.

  • Toxic chemicals 

  • Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or fungi

  • Parasites

  • Exposure to extreme weather

Physical Stress

Physical stressors include:

  • Poor or inadequate sleep

  • Lack of sunlight

  • Sedentary lifestyle

  • Overly intense exercise

  • Structural misalignment or excess muscle tension

  • Poor nutrition

  • Dehydration

  • Poor posture

  • Sub-optimal breathing habits


Mental Stress

Mental stressors include:

  • False, negative, or toxic thought patterns

  • Too many commitments or responsibilities

  • Parenting

  • Care giving

  • Finances

  • Job or school-related stress


Emotional Stress

Emotional stressors include:

  • Psychological or physical trauma

  • Stored/unprocessed emotions

  • Loss of a loved one, job, or home

  • Overwhelm

  • Fear, anxiety, worry


Social Stress

Social stressors can include:

  • Large social gatherings

  • Toxic/negative friends

  • Loneliness/lack of community

  • Difficult marriage relationship

  • Parent/child relationships

  • Sibling relationships

  • In-laws and extended family

  • Collective trauma on a community, national, or world level. (Think 9/11 or the isolation that resulted from COVID-19)


Spiritual Stress

Spiritual stressors include:

  • Lack of connection to anyone or anything greater than oneself   

  • Materialistic, mechanistic, or utilitarian mindset

  • Belief in a vengeful, angry, or absent God

  • Feelings of guilt, unworthiness, rejection, separation, or being unloved


In short, you can experience or be exposed to stress in ANY area of life. The most important thing any practitioner can do is help clients correctly identify the source(s) of their stress and then teach them the tools and practices that will help them overcome or gracefully manage those stressors in an integrated way that honors their individual needs. 



If you are ready for a new approach to health and wellness, contact Sage Wellness Center today.  We can help you address the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health in an individualized way!


Call 406-560-0662 or click below to book an initial consultation or appointment today!

 
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