Research is showing that it is not what we have to deal with,
but how we deal with it that determines the severity of stress
in our lives. Stressors are the pressures from the outside
(either good such as winning a lottery; or bad such as a
divorce), and stress is your response to stressors. Good
stressors (such as planning a wedding) are called eustress; and
bad stressors (such as a death of a loved one) are called
distress. Eustress can become distress (for example wedding
plans are upset). This article will concentrate on stressors
known as distress. Our reactions to distress go through three
stages: alarm reaction followed by state of resistance, then
state of exhaustion. Immediate physical effects of the alarm
reaction include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate,
increased heart contraction (faster beats), reduced blood flow
to kidneys and intestines, dilated pupils, dilated bronchial
tubes, increased muscular strength, release of glucose from
liver, and increased mental activity. If the distr