The perception does not have to be accurate, however. A false belief can cause significant stress. Stressors are the events and thoughts that lead the person to perceive that a threatening demand is being made. Strain is the negative effects of stress. Strain may appear as fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, medical and physical problems, insomnia, depression, anxiety, over eating, drug and alcohol abuse, risk taking, or diminished functioning, to name a few of the possibilities.
Stress can be positive and negative.
On the positive side it alerts us to a threat and increases our level of arousal and activation which can help us be more effective in coping with the threat. It is mismanaged stress or an over-abundance of stress which causes strain and can be devastating for the person or the system. When a potential stressor is perceived as threatening, the person s level of arousal is increased and stress is experienced. The person selects from the available resources a coping response that is expected to be effective in reducing or eliminating the stressor. If stress is successfully reduced the person experiences a relaxation of arousal and increased confidence in being able to handle future stressors.