13.9a Recognise common signs and indicators of stress in themselves and others

While stress can be a good thing that can help us to work effectively, it can also be a bad thing due to factors like undue pressure and overwork, and can affect your well-being in a negative way. It is important to note that it is not challenging events themselves that cause stress, but the way we see and think about challenging events that leads to feeling stressed.

There are numerous signs and indicators of stress you should watch out for. These can be split into several different categories:

• psychological or emotional such as anxiety, anger, depression and indecisiveness
• physiological or physical such as stomach complaints, uneasiness and tension
• behavioural such as aggression, increased substance abuse and changes in eating patterns