Stress ‐ what exactly is it?

THE concept of stress has now been accepted as part of modern day life. But what, exactly, is stress, what causes it and how do you recognise it in yourself and in the people you work with? In this, the first in a series of articles, Charlotte Dale explores exactly what stress is, how it manifests itself and what causes it. Later articles will go on to explain how stress can be recognised and dealt with, and how you, as an employer, can encourage those you work with to give their best effort ‐ but without causing them more stress by doing so.