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:
Environmental stress
Physical stress
Mental stress
Emotional stress
Social stress
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!