Stress, What a Mess!

Stress Awareness Day

Reading Comprehension for April 16

What is stress? Stress is a popular word these days. A lot of people say they are "stressed out", which means that they are feeling any number of uncomfortable feelings due to their jobs, their schoolwork, their relationships, or other situations.


Stress is the feeling of being unsettled or uncomfortable because of outside influences, such as those listed above. A certain amount of stress is a good thing. Without any stress, you would not work as hard. You might not accomplish things that make you happy without having a deadline or goal. You might say that a little bit of stress can keep you disciplined and focused.


On the other hand, too much stress can lead to many difficulties. Too much stress has been linked to many health problems. Stress can cause relationships to sour and important tasks to remain undone.


What causes you to feel too much stress? Often, you bring stress upon yourself. You have a lot more freedom to make choices than you admit. You can choose how many activities to get involved in. You can choose to let someone else's opinion control you - or not. You can choose to step away from busy situations and take a break. Here are some guidelines to help you feel less stress:


1. Accept that stress is a part of life, but your response can determine how much it hurts you. You cannot always change what happens, but you can control how you respond.


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