How to Identify Your StressRoot?

Identifying your Stress Root

Stress may come from one issue or smaller issues that build over time. Since the source of your stress may not always be clear at the beginning, it is important to consider what factors may be contributing to your stress. Different types of stress cause varying levels of stress for everyone.

What are the common types of stress?

Common types of stress may impact your level of day-to-day functioning which is why it is helpful for you to identify your stress root in order to implement strategies to deal with the type of stress you are experiencing.

Time stress

Time stress is when you feel like you don’t have enough time to complete what is expected. These expectations may come from an external source or come from within yourself.

Anticipatory stress

Anticipatory stress happens when you are concerned about a difficult or unpredictable situation that hasn't occurred yet. This type of stress may also be experienced as a worry or anxious thoughts.

Situational stress

Experiencing a situation where you feel like you don't have control or feel worried is referred to as situational stress. A situation may be a one time occurrence or be an ongoing situation that has yet to be resolved.

Encounter stress

When you encounter people who are often challenging, encounter stress comes into play. Depending on the relationship with the challenging person, the stress may be short lived or you may feel like you are in a constant state of stress when you are around that person.

Illness

If you are experiencing an illness, you may be feeling stressed. A change in daily functioning, at home or at work, may be frustrating. Some people may become diagnosed with ongoing chronic illness or become sick for only a short period of time. For people with certain illnesses, the level of functioning may vary. Therefore, you have symptoms that make it difficult for others to recognize that you are ill.

School

School stress may come in different forms. As a student, you may have challenges with organization and time management skills. You may feel like you need to work hard to be successful when you see others not needing to put in the same level of effort.

Trauma

There are many different types of trauma that may cause someone to experience different stress levels. Whether you experienced an acute, chronic or complex trauma, the stress that comes from each is important to acknowledge.

Workplace

Stress in the workplace could come from various sources. You may feel like you have too much work to do in not enough time. There might be occasions where you have conflict with a colleague or a supervisor. Changes that occur at work may be a stressor as well.

Wellness

Wellness often includes how you feel physically and emotionally. If you are concerned about your eating habits, you may feel a level of stress because you aren’t sure what to eat and when to eat. Sleep is often impacted by stress. You may have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. Exercise or movement may be a source of stress when not knowing what to do or how to establish a workout routine.

Relationships

Communication challenges in relationships is frequently a source of stress. Another source of stress in relationships is a change in commitment such as the amount of time spent together or one person feeling like the other is not giving them the level of attention they want or had been used to. In romantic relationships, one partner may feel a loss of physical attraction.

Financial

Financial stress arises for various reasons. In some situations, there is a lack of savings or not enough income. You may have money management challenges either due to low financial literacy or impulsive spending may also experience stress. Financial stress may also arise from having high debt.

Neighborhood

Neighborhood stress may impact people’s physical and mental health. This type of stress may occur when people live in neighborhoods where they feel unsafe or when they don’t have access to adequate living conditions. You may have less social support in your neighborhood and therefore, experience a higher level of stress and mental health concerns.

Acculturative

Acculturative stress is when an individual experiences stress when they need to adjust to a new host country and society. As an immigrant, you may experience challenges related to learning a new language, finding work, discrimination and adapting to ethnic and cultural differences.

Obligation

Obligation stress often occurs when people’s roles and their expectations for themselves and others feel overwhelming. You may feel family obligations such as a caregiver for children, a parent or a partner. Those experiencing obligation stress may spend more time taking care of others rather than taking care of themselves or their own needs.

Environmental

Environmental stress may be natural such as hurricanes, droughts, floods and fires or man made such as as the production and release of chemicals in the environment. Depending on the circumstance, the stress from the environment may be challenging to adapt to since there may not be predictability in what may occur, is occurring or after a circumstance occurred. You may not feel in control and have a hard coping to the uncertainty.

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