What is Stress Overload

Stress overload is when a person undergoes too much strain than he or she can handle. This is particularly evident in the workplace.

The weak economy could wreak havoc not only to the finances but to the nerves as well. Understandably, one of the unsavory effects of an economic turmoil is stress. People are plagued by uncertainties of the future such as job security, mortgage responsibilities and other pressing concerns.
Stress, up to a certain level, is good. It provides the stimulus needed to strive for better things. It alerts you to concerns that you need to take care of. However, if stress reaches a point where you become overwhelmed by the situation and you are paralyzed with fear or become incapable of taking actions then it could be harmful.

The level of stress that a person can cope with depends on the individual. Some easily get stressed out. Others do not feel overwhelmed by uncertainties at all. In the case of poverty, for instance, some people are comfortable living a very simple lifestyle. Others would see poverty as a challenge and strive hard to overcome it. Still others feel overwhelmed by it and wallow in self-pity or insecurities.

Stress Overload occurs when a person undergoes too much strain in his/her life. According to Margaret Lunney, stress overload pertains to "excessive amounts and types of demands that require action; is a human response that is experienced as a problem and contributes to the development of other problems." In the above mentioned example, the third group of people are the most prone to this problem because they feel fazed by poverty.

Stress Overload can be brought about by several factors such as intense pressures, illnesses or long-term difficulties. Other possible causes of Stress Overload are:

relationship problems
death of close friend or in the family
school or work-related problems
handling too many tasks with little time for relaxation
Due to its prevalence, stress overload is considered by health experts as one of the occupational hazards. The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) cited that around 3,418 cases of illnesses associated with occupational strain were reported in 1997. According to BLS occupational stress is “neurotic reaction to stress.”
The same report cites that the four industries with the most number of occupational stress cases are the following: Services at 35%, manufacturing at 21%, retail trade at 14 %, and finance, insurance, and real estate at 12 %. The most tension-inducing jobs are: bookkeepers and accountants, sales, cooks and managers and proprietors. Women outnumber men in tension-related illnesses by 1.6 : 1 ratio.

Job burnout is probably one of the most noticeable signs of occupational stress. It often manifests in the final stages of work stress. The primary indication of a job burnout is loss of enthusiasm and energy for the job. In order to cope effectively, the person must address the problem or take time out in order to revive old zest for work.

Some stressful situations may require the need of expert care such as in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic disorder occurs if a person undergoes an extremely traumatic situation such as an accident. For those who feel worried or anxious constantly, seeking medical attention would be a good idea since medical practitioners can prescribe medications or provide psychiatric counseling that are necessary to overcome chronic anxiety.