stressor
What causes strain
A stressor is anything that causes stress—a demanding situation, persistent worry, or environmental pressure that strains mental or physical resources.
The term appears frequently in psychology and health contexts: Major life stressors include divorce, job loss, and illness.
Chronic stressors take a greater toll than acute ones.
Troubled mental state
- fearEmotional response to threat
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
panic · apprehension · overwhelm · unease · restlessness · hypervigilance · rumination · insomnia
Direct hostile encounter
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- tensionStretched or strained state
- discordLack of agreement
friction · rivalry · hostility · criticism · rejection · betrayal · resentment · estrangement
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- setbackReverse in progress
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
difficulty · struggle · ordeal · tribulation · calamity · disaster · catastrophe · affliction
Agent enabling change
- precipitantCauses solid formation
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- provocationAct that triggers response
- antecedentSomething that precedes
activator · spark · incitement · cause · factor · inducer · prompt · aggravator
Time limit for completion
- workloadAssigned task volume
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- obligationRequired task or commitment
pressure · commitment · quota · target · performance · accountability · multitasking · overtime
worry
Troubled mental state
- fearEmotional response to threat
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
dread · panic · apprehension · overwhelm · unease · restlessness · hypervigilance · rumination · insomnia · cortisol
confrontation
Direct hostile encounter
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- tensionStretched or strained state
discord · friction · rivalry · hostility · criticism · rejection · betrayal · resentment · estrangement · harassment
hardship
Suffering from difficult circumstances
- setbackReverse in progress
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- traumaLasting psychological wound
crisis · difficulty · struggle · ordeal · tribulation · calamity · disaster · catastrophe · affliction · trouble
catalyst
Agent enabling change
- precipitantCauses solid formation
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- provocationAct that triggers response
antecedent · activator · spark · incitement · cause · factor · inducer · prompt · aggravator · irritant
deadline
Time limit for completion
- workloadAssigned task volume
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- responsibilityState of being answerable
obligation · pressure · commitment · quota · target · performance · accountability · multitasking · overtime · crunch
- stressstrain, overload, overwhelm, cortisol, fight or flight
- Troublesproblem, trouble, issue, setback, snag
- hormesisdose, preconditioning, cold exposure, caloric restriction, intermittent fasting
- life triggerstrigger, catalyst, spark, turning point, inciting incident
stressorcomfort
Ease or soothing relief
relaxant · soother · reassurance · solace · balm
stressorsupport
To uphold or sustain
resource · buffer · uplift · social support · replenisher
- stressed outAnxious from excessive demands
- stress outCause excessive worry
- stress reliefReduction of mental tension
- stressing outExperiencing acute anxiety
- stress testEvaluating performance under strain
- stress ballHandheld tension reliever
stress, distress, stressed, distressed, stressful, distressing, stressing, unstressed, destress