Stress is defined simply as 'Change'.

Any kind of change. Be it nvironmental, Physical, Emotional or Social - Good or Bad. As human beings we are naturally resistant to any type of change. So prospect of anything in our well-defined lives changing, puts our bodies on 'Full Alert'.

Between ages of birth and 6 years old, we lay down our jigsaw puzzle of life. Our subconscious minds carve out a plan of what is acceptable, believable, achievable and realistic. From learning that putting your hand on red circle on stove is sore, to associating a raised voice with a deed deemed to be unacceptable.

This is subconscious laying out set of rules that determines survival. If you want to not only survive, but function well in world, these are rules you have to live by.

Good girls don't do that..., boys don't cry..., don't mix with them they're not our class etc etc.

Thus starts process of Stress. The subconscious will hold onto its 'Survival Jigsaw' against tremendous opposition. The moment it perceives change, defenses go up.

It is a proven fact that some of us handle Stress better than others. About 10% of population actually has a lowered capability of adjusting to change, and seeing it as a welcome challenge. The chemical imbalance in their brain causes them to be acutely aware of, and sensitive to, change. The results are Depression, Insomnia, Irritability, PMS amongst others.

There you are going about your normal day and you suddenly realize that you're very worried about something. It sort of creeps up on you when you feel muscles in your shoulders bunch up and you can't seem to get enough sleep, no matter how hard you try.

Do you know signs that tell you when you've had enough? No? Well, learning to recognize them will be a fundamental first step to helping you to come to grips with your life.

Some people can't sleep, some get incredibly tense shoulder and back muscles, some get irritable and snappy, some cry and go all weak. Regardless of what signs are, you need to get to know what does it for you.

When you learn to recognize that stress load you're putting on yourself is getting to be too much for your body to handle, stop and analyze your situation.

It is far better to sort out your problems, fears and anxieties than to let them keep on stressing you out. Any of above symptoms is your body's way of alerting you to fact that you need to take action to resolve situation, before there are serious repercussions. It is trying to tell you to slow down and sort out whatever is happening so that you can get rid of some of load and let it repair itself.