 Hey Psych2Goers, do you know what triggers your stress? Knowing common stressors can be a big part of combating the tension you feel. Most people have trouble identifying their triggers and may wind up feeling the effects of stress without knowing what caused it. So here are eight things that may be triggering your stress. 1. You have trouble with finances. Are you worried about making enough money to be financially stable? Well, you're not alone. Because according to the American Institute of Stress, money is the second most common source of stress in the United States. Making enough money requires hard work, budgeting, knowledge, and physical responsibility. As much of the world revolves around money, the ways of making and managing income can become very stressful and take a toll on your well-being. 2. You have toxic friends. Dear friends, complicate everything and leave you stressed out a lot. While good friends are supposed to help and support you through life's challenges, toxic friends may drain your energy and hurt you. They may be hypocritical, selfish, and cause a great deal of drama. Then any prolonged stress they may cause you can lead to negative effects on your emotional and mental well-being. 3. You're affected by someone else's stress. Do you notice that you feel worse when the people around you are stressed out? Maybe your friends are panicking over a test for a class you don't take, but for some reason you feel panicked too. Stress is contagious, and this is especially true when you're an empath who's in tune with what others feel. So it's important to be aware of the kind of energy you surround yourself with. 4. You're going through a big life change. Are you stressed out when things change? Events or lifestyle changes like moving to a new state, practicing social distancing, or losing a loved one can send even the calmest person spiraling. According to Dr. Srinni Pillay, big life changes can lead to cognitive dissonance, which is when your beliefs and behaviors don't match up. Large disruptions in your life bring about uncertainty and therefore more stress. 5. You have a traumatic upbringing. Your upbringing can make more of a difference to your current self than you think it does. It can influence your identity and attitude to how you deal with stress. For example, a rough childhood may lead you to develop CPTSD, complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of CPTSD are trouble regulating emotions and impulses, a skewed sense of self, and alterations in life meaningfulness. 6. You have an alcohol addiction. Do you often turn to drinking when dealing with stress? While alcohol may temporarily help you cope with stress, it can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety in the long run, which can make stress more difficult to deal with. As an addiction treatment center put it, the aftermath of drinking alcohol includes a drop in blood sugar levels and aggravating symptoms of anxiety for some. So if you find yourself particularly stressed out after a night of drinking, you may want to make a mental note to consider that before going out and doing the same thing again. 7. You have negative beliefs towards life. While there are external triggers for stress, there are also internal ones. Being pessimistic and lacking the ability to let things go can trigger a stress response. It may be because talking negatively to yourself can make you view things as more negative, or that holding on to anger and resentment can make you more susceptible to the stress that comes from those emotions. Keeping your body in a constant state of alarm will result in stress and exhaustion. 8. You have cumulative stress. You find yourself reaching a breaking point at a seemingly random time. This may be because of what's called cumulative stress. There isn't one big reason for your stress, but several small ones that add up. You may be able to handle each small event individually, but feel overwhelmed when they start to pile up. Having time to process and recover in between, particularly trying circumstances, is crucial. And without it, you might be more at risk of the negative side effects stress brings. Do you relate to any of these signs? What do you plan to do next? Let us know in the comments below. If you found this video helpful, be sure to like, subscribe, and share this video with those who might benefit from it. The references and studies used in this video are added in the description below. Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next video.