Centre for Studies on Human Stress

FAQ

Is stress necessary for life? Yes, without a healthy stress response, humans would not be able to survive. Stress hormones are essential for many metabolic and daily activities, including eating and waking up!

Is time pressure the cause of stress? No, the elements of a stressful situation are: novelty, unpredictability, threat to the personality, a poor sense of control….NOT time pressure.
See Recipe for stress for more details

Is stress related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Yes, stress has been associated with the initiation and exacerbation of IBS symptoms.

Are adults more stressed than children or older adults? No, the lives of children and the elderly often involve more novelty, unpredictability and uncontrollability than adults’ lives - the elements that make for a stressful situation.

Is stress bad for the heart? Yes, chronic stress is associated with increased blood pressure and increased risk of various cardiovascular diseases.
See Types of stress for more details

Is there an easy way to measure stress hormone levels? Yes, we can easily measure the stress hormone cortisol in saliva.

Does everyone secrete the same amount of stress hormones in the face of a stressful situation? No, personality variables, such as self esteem, impact the amount of stress hormones secreted during a stressful situation.

Do stress hormones help us getting up in the morning? Yes, cortisol is secreted in great amounts before, during, and immediately after waking up, which helps us to mobilize our resources and stay vigilant throughout the day.

Is chronic stress harmful? Yes, chronic stress puts you at risk for certain diseases in combination with other vulnerability factors such as pre-existing cardiac problems, pulmonary diseases and genetic tendencies.

Are things that stress us different from things that stress a friend? Yes, stress is dependent on the individual interpretation – so something must be perceived as stressful before there is a stress response, which means there are lots of individual differences in stressors.

Are women more at risk for stress-related disorders like depression? Yes. Women are more often depressed than men. However, this gender difference only appears after puberty, which suggests the involvement of hormones.

Is there ONE way to cope with stress? No. Because each of us is different, there is no one "correct" way to cope with stress. Also, depending on the "stressor", some coping strategies (e.g. confronting a person) may be more appropriate than others (e.g. avoiding the person).
See Coping with stress for more details

What is the first step in coping with stress ? Identify WHAT the problem is. Is it your job, school, money worries, or your relationship that is causing you stress? Make sure there are no unimportant surface problems masking the deeper ones.
See Coping with stress for more details