"43% of all adults suffer negative health effects from stress; 75 to 90% of all office visits are for stress-related ailments and disorders; stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung disease, accidents, liver cirrhosis and suicide." (Miller, 1993, p.12) “Stress ruins our health, our productivity, our wallets, and our lives, but it is necessary, even desirable.” (Oxford, 1998, p.29) By researching stress, one would learn what stress is, the early warning signs of stress, the different types of stress, and how to build resistance to it. Stress is a combination of physical, mental factors and emotional feelings that result from pressure, worry and anxiety. These pressures are called stressors. Some examples of common stressors are; divorce, death in the family, change of job, pregnancy, a large mortgage, marriage and retirement. “In medicine, stress is a physical, chemical, or emotional development that causes tension that can lead to physical illness.” (Microsoft Encarta) Early warning signs of stress include apathy, anxiety, irritability, mental fatigue, and overcompensation or denial. Some signs of apathy are feelings of sadness or enjoyment that is no longer fun. Feelings of restlessness, agitation, insecurity, and a sense of worthlessness are examples of anxiety. Signs of irritability are feeling oversensitive, defensive, and arrogant. Feeling argumentative, rebellious, or angry are also signs of irritability. Examples of mental fatigue are feeling worried, having difficulty concentrating, and difficulty thinking flexibly. Working too hard, denying there are problems, ignoring symptoms, and feeling suspicious are all signs of overcompensation or denial. Some behavioral signs of stress are avoiding things, doing things in an extreme way, administrative problems, and legal problems. Avoiding things means keeping to yourself, avoiding work, having difficulty accepting responsibility, and neglecting responsibility. Examples of extreme behaviors include alcoholism, gambling, spending sprees, and sexual promiscuity. Some administrative problems include lateness to work, bad appearance, poor personal hygiene and susceptibility to accidents. Possible legal problems include debt, shoplifting, fines, and inability to control violent impulses. Some physical signs of stress include excessive worries about illness, frequent illnesses, and physical exhaustion. Dependence on medications, including remedies like aspirin, is a physical sign of stress. Ailments such as insomnia, changes in appetite, and weight gain or loss are also physical signs of stress. Indigestion, nausea and nervous diarrhea are also physical signs, as are constipation and sexual problems. Stress can be confusing. There are some myths about stress. Here are some. A myth is that stress is the same for everyone. This is not true. What is stressful for one person may or may not be stressful for another; each person responds to stress differently.