It is easily noticeable that some individuals live in chaos, whereas others get subdued by a slight change in their lives even though that change may be positive. Contrary to the objective nature, subjectivity is the hallmark of stress. Some of the common factors that cause stress across all individuals are work, finance, tight schedules, and failures in relationships. Though the factors may be common, each individual copes with stress in a unique way. There are many reasons for these different coping strategies:

Different resource availability

Of the many definitions of stress, one of the most common is that it manifests itself when an individual cannot match the demands of a situation from the resources available. This will result in a perception of being under threat. This activates the stress responses of the body and also the feeling of “being fatigued.” Thus, the availability of resources is crucial in determining whether a particular event is stressful or not. The term “resources” generally is a reference to factors both internal and external. Internal factors include mental strength, bravery, and in-depth knowledge. External factors would include emotional and physical dependence on the outside world, monetary assistance, and other tangible resources. A variation in resource availability is the primary reason different people react to stress differently.

Physiological differences

Sensitivity and reactivity to stress vary from individual to individual. Temperamental differences and a plethora of character traits that are inherited which are evident from childhood are factors that can either make the person stronger mentally or can alternatively intimidate the person thereby leading to a failure in the management of stress. This article on self sabotage will provide more information. Although altering one’s inherited temperament is beyond one’s physical control, becoming aware of one’s behavior and fine tuning one’s skills can counter for specific weaknesses or alter the ways of living, which will eventually lead to minimizing the factors that cause stress.

Differences in interpretation of everyday events

How people interpret different situations in life is another factor that determines whether or not that situation was stressful. Being in total control of the given event would eliminate the threat and make a person stronger mentally. (Just imagine two different scenarios: one where people have few things that they can call their assets, which is voluntary and other where people have lost their possessions due to a decline in economic growth.) Developing a positive mindset by transforming threatening situations into challenging ones would eliminate a situation that is potentially stressful. (Imagine yourself performing tasks that exhausts your talents and compare them with those that you perceive as strenuous and which lacks creativity. No prizes for guessing which one would you prefer. Generating a feeling of thankfulness will enable you to see the glass half-full rather than half-empty. (“Searching for a reward” in a stressful situation is one technique that cannot fail.)

For you who get stressed out pretty easily, there’s a lot that can be meaningful that you gain from this. There are so many strategies to deal with stress:

• Expand your resources
  • Make friends for that will not leave you searching for support when stress knocks on the door.
  • Planning is crucial to counter emergencies. This planning could involve time and financial management.
  • In most instances people find that their first plan never succeeded. Therefore, it’s good to have a backup plan like the Australian cricket team.

• Develop nerves of steel
  • Speaking out your problems and sharing your difficulties with loved ones will boost your self confidence and will alter your outlook towards life.
  • Draw insights into your own life. You can always maintain a journal or diary recording crucial moments in your life. Spirituality, though not essential, can never be chucked out of the door.
  • Time-proven methods to tackle stress such as yoga and physical exercise can make you strong from within.

• Alter your perspective towards life
  • Always keep a smile handy
  • Think positive and master the art of staying positive
  • Experiment with techniques that can view stressful events with optimism.