Stress comes can come from two possible sources: externally or internally. Which means to tackle stress you need to recognize that there is a relationship between what you do during the day, and what happens after you think you've switched off.


External factors, contributing to stress include:
 

- Major life changes
- Work
- Relationship difficulties
- Financial problems
- Being too busy
- Children and family
 

Internal factors, contributing to stress include:
 

- Inability to accept uncertainty
- Pessimism- Negative self-talk
- Unrealistic expectations
- Perfectionism
- Lack of assertiveness

The effects of stress can be truly dramatic, so it's important to learn how to manage stress properly, to lead a happy and healthy life.

If you think stress is something to be taken lightly bear in mind that it's not just adults that are affected - read on to learn about how young children can be affected by stress if appropriate strategies to protect them are not adopted by the family, or if stress is just ignored by the parents.