Her mind certainly was not on the job of driving on a very busy main road, but in fact was still back on the job, which had made up the 'one of those days'. My colleague actually stopped at the lights, and when they turned red proceeded across the traffic. Somehow, no crash occurred, but my colleague was very shaken, because she generally prized herself on being a careful driver, and the reality of hurting someone or herself was very threatening. It was also possible for her to successfully explore better work load management techniques which eased the degree of potentially harmful stress. It can be said that we always have a choice, and that is true, however it must also be remembered that for some there are many more options than for others.
Stress is a constant and essential part of daily living.
In appropriate amounts, it makes life interesting and fulfilling. It stimulates and challenges us and ensures we continue to develop both in skills and wisdom. However an overload or continued, unrelenting stress may breakdown our capacity to adapt , resulting in poor emotional or physical health. This process is illustrated in the diagram below. The range of situations that can challenge us is huge.