Stress responses vary between individuals, and can involve physical, mental and emotional reactions, that impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing.
Ongoing stress can bring about symptoms such as tension and pain, headaches, appetite change, increased blood pressure and sleep disturbance, resulting in mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, and exacerbate or contribute to medical conditions such as heart disease, or lead to unhelpful behaviours such as alcohol or substance use or eating disorders.
Stress can be caused by external events (e.g. environmental, social situation, occupational stress) or internal (e.g. illness).