1.  Major life changes

• Spouse’s death
• Divorce
• Marriage separation
• Jail term
• Death of a close relative
• Injury or illness
• Marriage
• Fired from job
• Marriage reconciliation
• Retirement

2.  Daily hassles and demands

• Environmental stressors – Unsafe neighborhood, pollution, noise , uncomfortable living conditions and living in crime-ridden areas or war-torn regions.
• Family and relationship stressors – Problems with friends, romantic partners, and family members are common daily stressors. Marital disagreements, dysfunctional relationships, rebellious teens, or caring for a chronically-ill family member or a child with special needs can all send stress levels skyrocketing.
• Work stressors – In our career-driven society, work can be an ever-present source of stress. Work stress is caused by things such as job dissatisfaction, an exhausting workload, insufficient pay, office politics, and conflicts with your boss or co-workers.
• Social stressors – Your social situation can cause stress. Poverty, financial pressures, racial and sexual discrimination or harassment, unemployment, isolation, and a lack of social support all take a toll on daily quality of life.

3.  Internal Causes of Stress

• Uncertainty or worries
• Pessimistic attitude
• Self-criticism

• Unrealistic expectations or beliefs

• Perfectionism
• Low self-esteem
• Excessive or unexpressed anger
• Lack of assertiveness