Introduction

Simply put, Stress is any feeling of discomfort. No two people experience stress identically, and children experience stress somewhat differently from adults. Our world is full of situations and events that cause stress-- unemployment, marital tension, death of a parent or sibling, serious illness or injury, unexpected bills, threat of war or terrorism, etc. Events that might be particularly stressful for children include parents' divorce, abuse or neglect, poverty, school failure, illness, or media reports of terrorists or snipers. Even positive events -- such as moving to a new home, a new job, a new baby in the family, etc. can create a degree of stress. Although a certain amount of stress is good, life today presents most of us with more stress than we want or need. The age of the computer, of instant information, of instant evaluation of our actions, has added to the pressures of daily living by increasing our own expectations of what we can and should do.

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