• What is stress anyway?
• Good stress, bad stress
• Sources of stress
• Look for signs

A certain level of stress is actually a positive thing. In fact, when stress is increased we can feel more energetic, more alert and able to deal with the challenges that life throws at us. Athletes, musicians and entertainers are trained to channel their nervous energy positively to result in performances that probably couldn't be achieved without that extra edge.

But what we don't need is stress overload. Too much stress can leave us feeling exhausted, irritable, tearful and out of control. In the long term, too much stress can also cause serious problems such as high blood pressure and panic attacks.

The good news is that if we manage our stress successfully we can use it to enjoy a better quality of life.