What is Stress?

The subject of stress has become a common topic of conversation. We often hear friends, classmates, coworkers, and family members talk about the problems they have in managing the stresses of everyday living. We say we feel "burned out," stressed out, overwhelmed, angry, irritable, depressed, anxious, and on the verge of "losing it."

Stress can be defined as our mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions to any perceived demands or threats.