7 Underlying Stresses You Didn’t Know You Had

What is stress? For starters, it can be hiding in places you never realized. Here, we call out those sneaky causes of stress to help you feel calmer sooner.

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 Troubled economy, troubled home

What is stress? There are many causes of stress, of course, but it seems just turning on the TV flips on the stress switch. When we seek news about what’s happening in the economy, we get even more stressed because the news is often so bleak—job losses, industries in collapse, and even stress-related violence in our schools, homes, and workplaces. And it’s no secret financial woes can also wreak havoc on your marriage, thus adding even more stress. If you’re feeling a bit anxious lately, try one of the 14 foods that reduce stress.

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 Too many screens

There are plenty of new challenges that confront today’s American family. For example, Mom, Dad, Billy, and Sue might all be under the same roof, but they might as well be on different planets. That’s because each may be glued to his or her own TV screen. Mom may be checking e-mail from work. Dad’s watching a game. Sue may be on Facebook with her friends, some of whom she knows and some of whom she doesn’t. And who knows what Billy may be doing on the computer behind his locked bedroom door! Nothing answers the “what is stress” question more than too many screens. Bottom line: When you’re screening information, you’re screening your loved ones out. Watch out for these signs that you’re more stressed than you realize.

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 Youth’s become a commodity

Our families are now cultural battlegrounds with a war going on between the things that Mom and Dad enjoy and the things that marketers are hoping to sell to preteens and teenagers. The youth culture, which displays itself in fashion, music, literature, and other forms of entertainment, has driven a wedge between parents and children, making it one of the major causes of stress. We see that Hollywood is raising America’s youth, often with undesirable results.

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 The reality of two-worker families

Another of the many causes of stress is when both spouses work. It has become more and more difficult for a sole breadwinner to support a family. Part of this is due to the increasing tax burden in our society, and part is due to the ever-increasing appetite for consumer and luxury goods. We are now living in a world where many women who wish they had the choice to stay home with their children simply cannot afford to do so. And what happens in today’s economy, when one parent is out of work and the other parent now bears the full financial responsibility for the home? All of these issues raise the stress level in today’s marriages. Try these simple ways to make managing stress easier.

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 The de-stigmatizing of divorce

When the anti-divorce ethic was at its strongest in our society, until just a few decades ago, there were indeed more people locked into loveless marriages. On the other hand, the downside of the widespread acceptance and de-stigmatizing of divorce in our society may cause couples to think that it is acceptable to throw in the towel without making a strong enough stand for their marriages. The resulting trend of divorces increases the percentage of children from separated families and increase the likelihood that those children will view marriage as a temporary state.

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Less work-life balance

Not having a good work-life blanace is one of the biggest causes of stress. Workers in today’s economy feel more pressure than ever to always be connected. But when responding to work emails takes away from family time, or when dad takes a call from his boss at the dinner table, it sends a signal that work is more important than family. The result is family members who feel unimportant or unappreciated which can add stress to any home. Try these effortless ways to make your workday less stressful.

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Not enough sex

As couples age, libido may wane as well. And nothing adds stress to a relationship like a lack of sex, especially if one partner doesn’t understand why. Have an open discussion with your partner about sex and why or why not you’re having less of it. Once you’ve learned about all the causes of stress, read up on how stress can benefit your body.