Stress in the Modern Life - Essay Example

Stress in the Modern Life Abstract Research paper contains appropriate and clear information together with assumption of the question that concerns the problem of stress in the modern life. The purpose of this paper is to understand and investigate the notion of stress together with determining principal causes of stress and its effects on people’s life and health. The introductory paragraph reflects the brief overview of the notion of stress and counts the major causes of stressful conditions. The problems of life changes, money and work together with their influence on creating stress are included into the main body. In addition, the data about the increasing of diabetes and eating disorder as a prof for the high level of stress in modern life is presented. The information is supported by the examples from different investigations in this area. The conclusion provides an assumption of the given information. The method used is particularized examination of the literature together with the critical summarizing and personal inferences on the topic. Key words: stress, modern life, health, illness The notion of stress is considered to be a widely spread issue nowadays, even if to ask any person about stress experience he/she will probably give a positive answer. Scientists regard this term as imprecise one that is defined considering the area of the internal and external conditions (Walonick, 1993). Stress includes an environmental situation that remains to be stressful and symptoms that person experience under the stress (Walonick, 1993). Arnold and Feldman determine the stress as people’s reaction to the new threatening factors in their surroundings, while McGrath connect the notion of stress with “self-perceived abilities and self-confidence” of an individual (Walonick, 1993). Stress can also be viewed in a positive dimension as the manifestation of good and bad effects on people’s life or as a result “of thinking about the future” (Walonick, 1993). Still, it is possible to highlight principal causes of stress and their influence on people’s life and health. It is relevant to argue about life changes, money and work as three major causes of stress in modern society, and investigate their impact on people’s health by analysing the levels of such illnesses as diabetes and eating disorders over the last 30 years. The first cause of stress under consideration is life changes. It is possible to regard life changes to the dimension of the big stressors in our life (Baird, 2010). The matter is that some big and important events in the life of a person are laid under the idea of life changes (Baird, 2010). It is straightforwardly admitted that any event important for the particular person “can cause a significant amount of stress” (Baird, 2010). Such stressors can be divided to the positive and negative ones. Its evaluation entirely depends from the person perception and attitude to the event or situation. Still, such proceedings as marriage or retirement can be counted to the positive changes, whereas death of a close person, separation with a child or some other hard occasion is regarded as negative consequences. The second significant cause of stress is money. It is relevant to admit that money is remained to be a highly significant part of life in present days. Good financial status provides a high level of life and appropriate place in the society. To such extend people worry about their financial income and earnings. It is admitted that people who worried about their financial situation experiences increasing of significant illnesses more than ones who do not have to care about money (Mielach, 2012). It is possible to highlight two most widely spread problems connected with money, and they are considered to be debt and fear to lose job. It is suggested that people over debt experience a high level of stress (Mielach, 2012). Such individualities are “twice as likely to have a heart attack” in comparison with those who have no problems with money (Mielach, 2012). In addition, non-confidence in future because of fear to lose job is considered to be one more difficult stressor for the person. The third cause that is going to be discussed is work. The matter is that every person can experience some problems with working conditions, personnel or amount of work. That is considered to be a source of stressful conditions that is unavoidable for every individual that works. It is appropriately admitted that work is “the biggest source of concern in the average person’s life” (Mitchell, 2014). The matter is that people include work into all the spheres of their life. Modern technique allows to be connected with work everywhere and in any time. It is frequently happened even in the bed, as Mitchell suggests “the bedroom used to be a place of relaxation but technology is adding to everyday stresses and strains by making work accessible to people at all hours of the day” (2014). To such extend people have no time for the appropriate and complete relaxation, and have no chance to be distracted from daily troubles with work. Such situation generates stressful conditions and makes work one of the principal stressful factors. It is significant to mention that stress is related to the increasing of different illnesses that is important for comfortable human existence. The fact that modern life is extremely stressful goes together with the fact that the quantity of some diseases getting higher within last three decades. Such illnesses as diabetes and eating disorders are remained to be the effects of stress under consideration. Such disease as diabetes is regarded as a serious condition that includes different unpleasant implications to people’s life. It is possible to distinguish two types of diabetes that function in United Kingdom. Type 1 diabetes “occurs when the insulin-producing cells in the body have been destroyed” and has rather rare quantity in Britain (Young 2014). At the same time, type two is more common for UK and progresses in a situation when the insulin-producing cells do not work in a proper way and unable to produce insulin in sufficient quantities (Young 2014). Such condition has hard consequences concerning the appropriate work of kidneys and some other long-term complications (Young 2014). Diabetes is remained to be one of the consequences of experiencing stress. A chief executive of Diabetes UK, Baroness Young admits “It is frightening to think that one in 17 people you walk past in the street has been diagnosed with the condition” (2014). Such facts are staggering and deplorable, as the amount of people with diabetes in UK is increased rapidly for the last few decades. In comparison, it is possible to admit the statistic in the USA. It is suggested that “in 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes” (National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014). Moreover, there are a lot of cases that are found in young people and children. Such information data is straightforwardly related to the high level of stress that is presented in modern society and presupposed by the fast and intensive way of life today. The second discussed condition is different eating disorders. Under the influence of stressful conditions the level of eating disorders is increased. The matter is that when person is under the stress his/her regular eating habits may change that lead to unpleasant implications and problems with nutrition. It is admitted that in United Kingdom such diseases as anorexia, bulimia, compulsive over-eating disorder or binge-eating disorder are widely spread (Burton, 2012). It is admitted that “the rate of hospital admissions for the treatment of eating disorders has increased by 16% over the last year” (Burton, 2012). Such statistic is presented by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in UK (Burton, 2012). Such evidences are negatively impressive and astonishing. The USA statistics dwell on the idea that the total number of Americans with an eating disorder remains to be 8 Million (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 1991). Such evidences prove the idea that number of eating disorders increased together with modern life that is full of stressful conditions. Taking all facts under consideration, it is relevant to mention that stress is a serious proceeding that is unavoidable in modern life. Stress can be defined as special environment in which person finds uncomfortable. People’s inability to cope with the environmental demand leads to stressful situation. It is possible to accentuate on three principal causes of stress that are relevant in modern society. Those are considered to be life changes, money and work. The matter is that these three components construct the basis of person’s life if not to take under consideration family. In addition, it is important mention that stress is remained to be a result of increasing different diseases. Diabetes and eating disorders are under the big impact of stressful conditions. Statistic data shows that the quantity of discussed illnesses becomes higher within the last three decades in UK and USA. To such extent, it should be admitted that modern life is highly stressful. People face with stressful conditions every day, and considering present way of life that is an unavoidable proceeding. The only way out is to accept this fact and to know how to manage with stress effectively. Reference List: Baird, A. (2010). Causes of stress. Retrieved February 21, 2015 from http://www.healthline.com/health/stress-causes#Overview1 Burton, I. (2012). As eating disorders are on the rise, it's important to remember that there's more to it than anorexia. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/as-eating-disorders-are-on-the-rise-its-important-to-remember-that-theres-more-to-it-than-anorexia-8207526.html Mielach, D, (2012). How worrying about money affects your health. Retrieved March 2, 2015 from http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2419-money-worry-health.html Mitchell, L. (2014). Modern life means stress can hit before you even leave the bedroom. Retrieved February 19, 2015 from http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/498533/How-to-reduce-stress National Diabetes Statistics Report, (2014). Statistic about diabetes. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/ South Carolina Department of Mental Health, (1991). Eating Disorder Statistics. Retrieved March 3, 2015 from http://www.statisticbrain.com/eating-disorder-statistics/ Walonick, D. (1993). Causes and cure of stress in organizations. Retrieved February 21, 2015 from http://www.statpac.org/walonick/organizational-stress.html Young, (2014). Cases of diabetes increase to more than 3.2m. Retrieved March 2, 2015 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26116470 Read More