(ThyBlackMan.com) Knowing the top causes of stress may help you ward off some of the effects and stay healthier–physically and emotionally.
We have all been susceptible to the effects of stress, which can manifest itself in a number of ways, depending on the person and the severity of the situation at hand. Warning signs of stress can be physical, emotional, mental, occupational, social and even spiritual.
Following are the top ten sources of stress. Which ones have you been battling with and how do you cope?
1. Work
We’re all aware that a person’s job can be a huge source of stress—usually a result of the amount of time spent there each week, overwhelming workloads or a difficult boss. If a person does not like their job, has a long commute or has altercations with her co-workers, they can experience even more stress. Getting fired from a job is said to be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life.
2. Lack of Finances
Having no money to meet your basic personal needs or the needs of your 
family is stressful indeed. However the source of stress is not the lack of money by itself. Rather people are more interested in their own survival.
3. Health
Personal health issues can be stressful on both children and adults. Working to get well, worrying about medical costs or dealing with an unexpected health crisis or chronic illness can all bring on stress. The sad part is that stress itself contributes to disease. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that within the next 10 years, stress-related conditions like depression will rank as the second leading cause of disability worldwide.
4. Personal Relationships
Everyone is stressed at times by personal relationships, even when relationships are basically good. Couples argue, parents and children fight and occasionally conflict among friends or co-workers can create stress.
5. Childhood Trauma
People who are sexually, psychologically, and/or physically abused, or who have been abandoned while young, may carry these stresses into adulthood.
6. Death of a Loved One
The death of a spouse can be one of the most stressful events a person can face. Stress is made worse when a couple owes a lot of debts and the remaining spouse must worry about finances on top of grieving the loss of a spouse. Issues can be compounded even more if someone loses a spouse while there are still minor children living at home.
7. Divorce
Divorce is another leading cause of stress among men and women. In addition to dealing with a variety of stressful emotions, divorce usually means that one or both spouses must leave their home. Individuals also may be dealing disagreements involving division of property, finances, child support and custody issues.
8. Pregnancy
Infertility, lack of a relationship when wanting children, adoption, premature births, unplanned and/or unwanted pregnancies, complications during pregnancy, and pregnancies caused from sexual abuse and rape are high human stressors.
9. Environment
Some environmental factors can cause or add to a person’s life of stress. Two environmental factors, noise and excessive light, can induce stress. These environmental stressors can be worse if they are not controllable.
10. Self-Generated
Stress also can be caused by a person’s inner thinking. For example, unrealistic expectations and perfectionism can make events in which a person did not realize his ideals even more stressful. Pessimism and negative self-talk also can cause stress.
Written By Felicia Vance