ABSTRACT
75We all know what it feels like to be stressed. Indeed, it is said that ours is the “age of stress” given the 24/7 nature of our lives. As a result, it is popularly believed that people today are more anxious and stressed than people in the past, and the number of newspaper articles on anxiety and depression has doubled in the past 30 years. Note, however, that our ancestors had to contend with major epidemics, short life expectancy, frequent wars, and poverty. Do you think we are more stressed and anxious than previous generations?
The term “stress” is often used rather vaguely. What do you think are the main signs of stress? In your everyday life, what factors cause you to feel stressed? How do you try to cope with the stress you experience? How successful are these attempts to cope with stress?
