Stress is a normal response to pressure that can cause emotional strain if prolonged. A little stress is healthy to keep you going but too much can impair your function and cause serious health, mood and productivity issues. Living in a heightened state of stress can cause headaches, chronic pain, digestive issues, low libido, frequent sickness, anxiety and insomnia. It can also affect your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, causing you to act out of character (not eating, procrastinating, over/under sleeping, or withdrawing from others). Stress can come from external sources (finances, relationship, major life changes) or internal sources (perfectionism, pessimism, negative self-talk). The stress of care giving can be especially overwhelming. Identifying the stressors in your life is the first step to reducing external demands and balancing your stress levels.