This prolonged exposure can not only derange our body functioning and cause ill-health but also hamper the inner harmony which we need to survive and flourish as human beings. This can come from anxious worrying about events beyond our control, from a tense, hurried approach to life, or from relationship problems caused by our own behaviour. It can also come from an 'addiction' to and enjoyment of stress. Our personality can affect the way in which we experience stress. We may be familiar with the idea of 'type A' personalities who thrive on stress, and 'type B' personalities who are mellower and more relaxed in their approach.
Stress can cause the levels of a neurotransmitter called noradrenalin to rise.
This can give a feeling of confidence and elation that type As like. They can therefore subconsciously defer work until the last minute to create a 'deadline high', or can create a stressful environment at work that feeds their enjoyment of a situation. The downside of this is that they may leave jobs so late that they fail when an unexpected crisis occurs. This may also cause unnecessary stress for other colleagues who are already under a high level of stress. Other aspects of personality can cause stress.