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The writer opens her essay with “Stress is like oxygen to me.” That’s a powerful statement, and indicative of how constant stress can be. It’s important to distinguish, though, between stress – the feeling of pressure to do something – and anxiety – which is excessive worry.
Momentary stress as a trigger for adrenaline is a survival mechanism. It’s that sudden burst of energy that gets us out of a dangerous situation, or helps us finish a project by its deadline. Chronic stress, though, that never lets up and never goes away can have serious effects on both mental and physical health.
Stress that causes frequent anxiety or chronic stress that never goes away can impair our ability to live, laugh and love. That is, when stress affects our ability to work and be productive, to enjoy life, and to maintain meaningful personal relationships, then it is time to address it.