Understanding Stress

Psychologist Martin Seligman’s research suggests that the way we interpret adversity influences how well we recover from it.

Stress is woven into many of life's meaningful experiences. Caring for people we love, adapting to change, pursuing important goals, responding to challenges, and navigating uncertainty all require time, energy, and attention. Because these experiences matter to us, they often bring a degree of stress

For many years, stress was viewed primarily as something negative. Research has gradually expanded that understanding. Psychologist Hans Selye helped illuminate the important role stress plays in everyday life. His work demonstrated that stress is a natural response to the demands placed upon us and exists along a continuum. Some forms of stress can provide energy, focus, and motivation, while other forms can become overwhelming when demands remain high and opportunities for recovery become limited.

Another important contribution came from psychologist Richard Lazarus, who observed that stress is influenced by more than the events people encounter. The meaning a person assigns to a situation, the resources available to cope with it, previous experiences, support systems, health, and personal strengths all contribute to how stress is experienced. Because of this, two people may encounter similar circumstances while experiencing very different levels of stress.

This understanding invites a more compassionate perspective. Stress is not simply a measure of how difficult life has become; it is also shaped by the relationship between the demands a person faces and the resources available to meet them. During periods when life's challenges feel greater than the resources available, stress often increases. As resources grow—through support, rest, coping skills, experience, understanding, or changes in circumstance—the experience of stress may begin to shift as well.

People experience stress in many different ways. Some notice tension in their bodies, fatigue, changes in sleep, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or a persistent sense of being "on alert." Others find themselves caught in rumination, repeatedly turning over concerns in their minds while searching for solutions, clarity, or certainty. Stress may also influence relationships, making patience, communication, and emotional availability more difficult during demanding periods of life.

One of the reasons stress can be difficult to recognize is that it often develops gradually. A person may adapt to increasing demands while continuing to meet responsibilities and care for others. Over time, however, carrying a heavy load can require a significant amount of energy. Opportunities for rest, reflection, recreation, and support may receive less attention, and a person may begin to feel depleted without fully understanding why.

Every person's experience of stress is unique. Stress may accompany difficult circumstances, positive changes, meaningful opportunities, or a combination of many different experiences occurring at the same time. What feels manageable for one person may feel overwhelming for another, and what feels overwhelming today may feel very different under different circumstances.

Understanding stress often begins with curiosity. Looking beneath the stress itself may reveal something important about what a person values, cares about, hopes for, or feels responsible for. In this way, stress can sometimes point toward the relationships, commitments, goals, and experiences that hold significance in a person's life.

My hope is that greater understanding can help people respond to stress with compassion and respect for their own needs. Life will continue to bring change, challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities for growth. Along the way, there is value in recognizing the importance of rest, support, reflection, and the many practices that help restore balance and well-being.

Further Reading and Research

The ideas presented on this page were informed by the work of researchers, clinicians, and theorists who have contributed to our understanding of stress.

Foundational Contributors

Hans Selye (1907–1982)

Often called the "father of stress research," Selye developed the concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome and helped distinguish between helpful stress (eustress) and overwhelming stress (distress).

Richard Lazarus (1922–2002)

Developed the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, emphasizing the role of personal appraisal, meaning, and coping resources in the experience of stress.

Susan Folkman (1938– )

Collaborated extensively with Richard Lazarus and contributed important research on coping strategies and adaptation to stress.

Selected References

Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1985). If it changes, it must be a process: Study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college examination. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48(1), 150–170.

Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

Seligman, M. E. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press.

Seligman, M. E. (2012). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Atria Paperback.

Selye, H. (1956). The Stress of Life. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Selye, H. (1974). Stress Without Distress. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.

American Psychological Association. Resources on stress, coping, resilience, and health psychology.

Contemporary research in health psychology, behavioral medicine, resilience, and stress management.